Mr. T. P. O'Connor.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 40, 2 October 1902, Page 6

Mr. T. P. O'Connor.

Tho London correspondent of the Melbourno ' Advocate,' writing under date August 35, says: I have just had a chat with Mr. T. P. O'Connor, M.P. for the Scotland division of Liverpool, who is considering) the proposal that he should proceed to Australia as the delegate of tho Irish !Pa ( rly iVi respo7iso toy an invitation from the Melbourne and Sydney branches of tho United Irish League. Mr O'Connor finds some difficulty in making up his mind in tho matter. On the one hand, ho would like to see Australia and assist in the effective reorganisation of his countrymen throughout' tho Cotnmon wealth On the other, he is closely tied to London by long-stand-ing journalistic eng^geimenLs, a.io in particular, his widely-popular and highly-successful weekly paper, M.A P.,' demands his constant editorial stiper\ision I urged him to make the trip a good six months' holldsiiy. ruidi p.aintod aill 'therafttrtactions of tho colonies in the most glorious colors at mv command. But at present he cannot see his way to a longei absence f i om London than three months, and e\en that would entail considerable anxiety and incontinence This arrangement would leave only a month for actual work in Australia. l a}nd he asked mo whether it was possible to visit tho principal centres of Australia and New Zealand in that time. I replied that it might Ik- done,, but it would in\olve tra\ellmg at tremendous high pressure This consideration, howe\or, has no terrous for T.P., who is an old campaigner, and can sleep as comfortably in a railway carnage as on a feather bed.

In one of his American tours ho ApE on trains for a hundred nights Winning, after speaking for a couple of hours each night m a hundred towns. Jleforo this letter reaches Melbourne, you will probably know by cable whether Mr. O'Connor is coming or not It is to be earnestly hoped that he will accept the invitation lie is in the front rank of House ot Commons debaters, and he can piesent the case for. Trish selfgo\ eminent with a force, a fluency, and a power of argument and conviction unsurpassed I jy any oi*a|tor of our- lime At the age of 121 he came ft out 111 1 eland to make his way in the gieat woild of London. He encountered man\ privations and disappointments a I the outset of his laieer but ho eventually triumphed o\ei all obstacles, and now at 54 erno\s one of the highest reputations as aulhoi, louinalist, and Parliamentai wi n