Self-Determination for Ireland

New Zealand Tablet, 20 October 1921, Page 17

Self-Determination for Ireland

FIRST LEAGUE CONVENTION HELD IN DOMINION. The first convention of the New Zealand Self-Deter-mination for Ireland League opened in the National Mutual Buildings, Wellington, on Saturday, the Bth inst., when the following delegates were in attendance: Wellington: Rev. Fathers Connolly and Gondringer, Messrs. P. J. O'Regan, J. J. McGrath, B. Doherty, M. J. Rear-don,-IK" Bourke, J. A: Scott, P. Griffin, Mesdames T. J. Bourke, T. Dwyer, and M. Gleeson; Auckland: Messrs. Hall Skelton, J. O'Connell, and J. Murphy; Otago: Rev. Father Silk, Messrs. J. Robinson and H. Murrow; Westland: Mr. E. G. Cotter; South" Canterbury: Dr. J. P. Hastings and Mr. J. O'Brien; North Canterbury: Messrs. T. Cahill, J. Ryan, and R. Kelleher. Mr. O'Regan, who presided, extended a hearty welcome to the delegates, and explained that the main purport of the convention was to select representatives to attend an Irish Race Convention which was to be held either in Dublin or Paris on January 21 next, an invitation to be represented thereat having been received by cable from the Dail Eireann, and evidently the object was to submit the proposals for a settlement to that convention. Since the truce in Ireland they had necessarily suspended their activities, though he regretted that the press of this country had not refrained from biased comment and unfair criticism of the elected representatives of the people of Ireland. What form of government they should accept was primarily a matter for the Irish people themselves, though doubtless overseas Irishmen were entitled to express an opinion if they were invited to do so. They all hoped for peace, but no peace could be permanent without justice. People who styled themselves Imperialists had long been allowed to have their own way in discussing Imperial problems, one result of which was that the public had forgotten that .until comparatively recently representative men in England of all parties (including the archImperialist Disraeli) had looked forward to colonial independence as a matter of course, and had never regarded what was now called Dominion Home Rule as anything other than the first step towards 'complete nationality. Quite recently it had been emphasised by several of the most representative of British public men, that whether they would become completely independent was a matterentirely for the colonies themselves. No matter what individual opinions may be, it was common ground that any citizen was perfectly free to advocate colonial independence, and if it were lawful to do so in a self-governing colony, it was difficult to see by what mental process it could be regarded as a crime in Ireland. The president further referred to the need for having definite rides for their organisation and, 'although it was impossible to send as many delegates as the invitation had evidently contemplated, he had no doubt New Zealand would be worthily represented. [Other details of the convention appeared in last week's issue of the Tablet.'] A PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

, Prior to the commencement of Mr. Hall Skelton’s address in the , Paramount Theatre on Sunday, Mr. P. J. O’Regan, who presided, intimated that some weeks ago a cablegram had been received from Dail Eireann inviting the executive officers of the-Self-Determination for Ireland League of New Zealand to attend the Irish Peace Conference to be held on January 21 next either at Dublin or Paris. The cable nervs had given no N previous intimation that such a conference Avas to be held, but there was now reason to believe that the object Avas to submit the British proposals for settlement to a conference representing the Irish race throughout the Avorld. Previous to the reception of the message, the speaker continued, the League had practically determined to suspend its activities during the negotiations for a settlement, but the cabled invitation had made it imperative to summon a representative convention' of delegates representing the Provincial Councils of the League throughout New Zealand. Referring to the appointment _of Miss Mackay, of Christchurch, as a delegate, Mr. O’Regan said that no one had ever received such a compliment as Miss Mackay*' in that she was not personally known to more than', two of the delegates,, she

had no previous communication with any of them, and the invitation had been sent quite spontaneously on the suggestion of a lady delegate. (Applause.) They were all familiar with Miss Mackay's writing in the press on behalf of Ireland, and all would agree that no one deserved better of the Irish race in New Zealand. (Applause.) On the previous day Mr. O'Regan received the following telegram from Miss Mack ay: "Honored and delighted to accept. — Jessie Mackay." <«X>