IRISH NEWS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 20, 24 May 1923, Page 43

IRISH NEWS

RUNAWAY ENGINE: GALLANT SOLDIER SAVES MANY LIVES. A party of irregulars seized a railway engine the other morning at Monksland, between Thomastown and Athlone. The locomotive, which was under steam, was sent at full speed towards Athlone. An officer of the Railway Protection Corps, who saw the engine pass through Athlone station, communicated with the first blockhouse on the line along which, the engine travelled. This was situated at 73 mile post. Volunteer Brady, who was on duty at the post, divested himself of his boots and socks, and awaited the oncoming engine. As the train passed at a speed of from 20 to 30 miles an hour, Volunteer Brady pluckily jumped on to the foot-plate, and succeeded in reaching the controls and~bringing the engine to a standstill about 500 yards from an oncoming passenger,. train. Volunteer Brady was injured about the feet, but not seriously. SIX-COUNTY EDUCATION: OUTLINES OF NEW BILL. The text of the Six-County Education Bill, introduced the other week by Lord Londonderry, is now available. It is divided into 14 Parts, with 110 Clauses, and there are several schedules relating to administrative details. The measure follows the general lines indicated by the Minister in his speech. ' Part 3 is interesting as defining elementary education, provision for maintenance, co-operation with voluntary agencies, and transfer of schools to education authorities. Part 5 relates to religious instruction in provided or transferred schools, similar instruction in voluntary schools, and the Ministry's regulations for such instruction. Employment of children and yonug persons, and the training, certification, and appointment of teachers are among other points that have received exhaustive treatment. Most Rev. Dr. McKenna and Most Rev. Dr. Mulhern agree with Cardinal Logue and Most Rev. Dr. Macßory that it is undesirable at present to make any statement on the SixCounty Education Bill. The Council of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce appointed a committee to report on the measure.

RECOGNITION OF LATE PRESIDENT'S SERVICES TO IRELAND. When Dail Eireann assembled recently, its first business was the second stage of the measure known as the Griffith Settlement Bill, or to quote its fuller Parliamentary title, "An Act to make a suitable provision for the widow, children, and sister of the late President, Arthur Griffith in consideration of his eminent services to the nation."

Objects of the Bill.

The preamble of the Bill then sets out its purpose as follows:

“Dail Eireann, moved by the lifelong self-sacrifice and devotion of the late President Arthur Griffith to the people of Ireland and of the eminent services rendered by him to the Nation, and acknowledging it to be the duty of Saorstat Eireann.

“To make suitable provision for his widow, Mrs. Maud Griffith, and for his son, Naomhan Griffith, and his daughter Ita Griffith, and his sister, Miss Frances Griffith, has resolved that there shall be appropriated out of the public funds of Saorstat Eireann for the purpose of making such suitable provision for the said Mrs. Maud Griffith, Naomhan Griffith, Ita Griffith, and Miss Frances Griffith a yearly sum of £IOOO to commence from the 12th day of August, 1922, and to continue as to one equal moiety thereof during the life of the said Mrs. Maud Griffith;

“And as to one equal fifth part thereof until the said Naomhan Griffith shall either attain the age of twenty-five years or die before attaining that age, and as to one other equal fifth part until the said Ita Griffith shall either attain the age of twenty-five years or die before attaining that age, and as to the remaining one equal tenth part thereof: during the life of the said Miss Frances Griffith.”

The sections of the Bill provide that an annuity of £IOOO, commencing on August 12, 1922, shall be payable quarterly to certain trustees. Of this annuity one equal moiety, namely, the yearly sum of £SOO, shall be payable during the lifetime of Mrs. Griffith a yearly sum of £2OO shall be payable during the lifetime of the late President’s only son up to the age of 25, and £2OO a year shall be payable to his only daughter up to the age of 25. The remaining £IOO of the whole annuity shall be payable to his sister, Miss Frances Griffith during her lifetime.

Mrs. Griffith’s Share.

The Trustees shall pay Mrs. Griffith her own share for her own use,. The share allotted to the ex-President’s son shall be applied to his maintenance and education, either by the Trustees themselves or through his mother. Money left over after making these provisions . shall be invested for him to become his property at the age of 21.

Similar provision is made for the upbringing and education of Miss Ita Griffith. Money saved out of her annuity shall be invested on her behalf to become her property at the age of 21 or on her marrying before that age.

The Trustees arc to be two in number, and the first Trustees are to be appointed by the Rev. Michael Sheehan, 0.F.M., brother of Mrs. Griffith, with the approval of the Minister of Finance.

FREE STATE POSTAGE STAMPS.The new three-penny stamp issued by the PostmasterGeneral's Department of the Irish Free State, carries a tasteful and effective Celtic cross design which has a peculiarly interesting history. According to the P.M.G., Mr. J. J. Walsh, it was the special request of the late President (Arthur Griffith) that this design should feature in the Free State scries of stamps. About 16 years ago, Griffith conceived the plan of using postage stamps and labels to further the Sinn Fein movement which he organised, captained, and finally led to victory. One of the two stamps so used bore the Celtic cross design, and, so extensively was it usedin addition, of course, to the usual postage stamps of the timeon letters originating in Ireland, England, and America, that the British Government intervened and prohibited it. The same design came to light and life again in the stamps used in Dublin during Easter Week, 1916.

PRESIDENT'S REPLY TO A CABLE FROM AMERICA. The Government Publicity Office issues the following copy of a. letter written by President Cosgrave in reply to a- cablegram from Mr. Finnerty, of the American, Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic:

“I have received your cablegram protesting against the Irish Government suppressing the Irregulars’ attempt to destroy the Irish nation. Your protest is built on the garbled and lying propaganda of hysterical women. You should ascertain the facts in Ireland. I received no protest from you

“Against Irregulars burning Irish homes;

“Against ordered execution of non-combatants for refusing to aid Irregular,forces;

“Against murders of little Emmett Mac Garry, Seamus Dwyer, Sean Hales, and Dr. O’Higgins;

“Against shooting-up of Ballyconnell and murder of three unarmed' civilians there;

“Against destruction of water supply of towns;

“Against setting a burning train in motion with passengers inside

“Against wrecking of passenger trains;

“Against murder of engine drivers in Kerry for refusing orders from Irregulars;

“Against Irregulars ambushing troops in crowded streets wherobv civilians are maimed and killed, and using women and little girls to carry lethal weapons and explosives, thus exploiting chivalry of Irish troops to their own - danger

“Against murder, robbery, and pillage and destruction by Irregulars whose objective is now Document No. 2, or Document No. 3, or return of British.”