IRISH PARLIAMENTARY PARTY

New Zealand Tablet, 6 April 1911, Page 628

IRISH PARLIAMENTARY PARTY

THE DELEGATES TO NEW ZEALAND The_ following letter from Mr.- J. Burke, secretary of the Wellington Reception Committee, has reached us just as we go to press. # The letter explains itself; and we gladly publish the intimation it contains far and wide. Undoubtedly donations should be gathered at the earliest possible moment. It would, we think, facilitate this object if all the centres (in both Islands) likely to be addressed were immediately communicated with, so that the local treasurers could be appointed without delay. Each centre would naturally wish its contribution to go in a lump sum; and those outside of the centres to be addressed could, either send donations to the nearest local treasurer, or to Wellington. _ In the meantime, we hope the Wellington committee's invitation will be widelv noted and promptly responded to. Mr. Burke (whose address is ' Land Transfer Office, Wellington writes as follows: — To the Editor: Sir,—As you are aware, three representatives of the Irish Nationalist Party are now en- route to our shores to make as is confidently expected, a last appeal for funds to complete the fight which has been waged for more than a century, and which is now on the eve of closing with a glorious victory for the cause that has known no surrender. Mr. Martin Kennedy, of this city, has been entrusted with the arrangement of twelve meetings in the Dominion, and in order to make the visit a success he called together .'.-a meeting of those interested in the movement, and a strong committee has been formed, which is doing its utmost to present the party with a purse worthy of our land. Circulars (a copy of which is enclosed) have been forwarded to very many places with a view to gathering funds even before the delegates reach New Zealand, but as some places .may be overlooked, may I ask the assistance of your valuable columns in notifying your readers of the steps that are in progress and also notifying any who wish to contribute to the cause that their donations, large or small, will be gratefully accepted. The following is the circular letter referred to in Mr. Burke's communication: - Wellington, March 31, 1911.Dear Rev. Father, —The following is the text of a cablegram received last week by Mr. Martin Kennedy, of Wellington, from Mr. J. E. Redmond, Leader of the Nationalist Party in Ireland: ' Martin Kennedy, Wellington. 'lrish Party delegates arriving Wellington, Rotorua. Kindly arrange reception and twelve meetings. Redmond.' On receipt of the cable, which speaks for itself, Mr. Kennedy convened a meeting of sympathisers with the cause. The meeting was largely attended, and the unanimous decision was expressed that we should give the delegates Messrs. W. A. Redmond, M.P., J. T. Donovan, and R. Hazleton —a right royal welcome and make their mission to this free land of ours a pronounced success. As this visit is confidently anticipated to be the last occasion on which the gallant party that has fought so long and consistently against overwhelming odds will have need to appeal to us for financial aid, we ask all children of the Dear Old Land and true sympathisers with the cause to rally round the flag, and show our brothers in the battle that we are with them heart and hand.

From the meagre information to hand you will see the delegates intend to address twelve meetings only, and consequently it will not be possible for them to speak in your district; however, we will use our best endeavors to get at least one, if not all three, delegates to visit you and deliver an address in public. It will be necessary to appoint a local treasurer for each centre until the delegates on arrival intimate their desire as to the disposal of the funds collected in. New Zealand.

Meantime, we trust you will bring the matter before the people of your district and put in circulation the lists enclosed. - ,

Trusting you will give this matter your whole-hearted support, or, if through any cause you find you cannot personally attend to it, you will request, some prominent member of your district to take the matter in hand, I am, dear Rev. Father, Yours sincerely, 31 BURKE, Secretary Wellington Committee. Address—Land Transfer Office.