A VOICE FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 49, 6 December 1900, Page 6

A VOICE FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

The following letter (writes our Wellington correspondent) has been received by Mr. J. J. Devine, solicitor, from Dr. Considine, president of the Irish Association, Port Elizabeth, South Africa :—: — Sir, — For the following reasons, amongst others, the members of the Port Elizabeth Irish Association have desired us to express, through you, the wish to become affiliated with the Irish organisations in Wellington :—lst.: — Ist. In order to assist as far as possible our fellow-countrymen from Australia who might desire to emigrate to Sunny Africa, as we know only too well the difficulty there is in obtaining a decent livelihood in a strange land without friends, it is the chief aim of our organisation to do all in our power to render assistance in such cases. We would expect this action on our part to be duly reciprocated. 2nd. To create a spirit of brotherhood among the scattered sons of Ireland, and to come more in touch with the desireß and views entertained by friends elsewhere, thereby regulating a common action among all Irishmen, especially those resident in foreign countries. By such unity, it is unnecessary to point out, we would be in a far better position to place our efforts to the advantage of our public men at home, who are endeavoring in every constitutional way to obtain redress of Ireland's long standing grievances, which are the cause of continual unrest and poverty among our people. We are safe in anticipating that the present war, though still dragging along wearily, will soon be referred to at the 'late unpleasantness.' Peace having once been proclaimed, the general elections for the British House of Commons decided, and the new form of Government established in Australia, the opportunity might be a good one to bring Ireland's cause again prominently to the front, and by unity, as we have indicated, Irishmen resident in the colonies could do much for its advancement. We are further of opinion that if our fellow-countrymen in Australia and Canada would take the initiative in supporting the idea of forwarding petitions to the Imperial Parliament, it would be a great souroe of encouragement to our oolonial friends in South Africa to do likewise. Such a course of action, if judiciously executed, would unquestionably aid the Nationalists of Ireland, as well as to rivet the attention of well-disposed Englishmen on the need of better legislation for Ireland. We trust you will have the goodness to submit this to the Irishmen in your quarter, and to cause communications to be extended to other centres ; and on receipt of your favor we shall be most happy to place same promptly before this Association, and to trans* mit your views to the Irishmen of Capetown, Kimberley, East London, and Durban,