MY RECENT TOUR.—BY MR J. E. REDMOND, M.P.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1416, 20 June 1884, Page 3

MY RECENT TOUR.— BY MR J. E. REDMOND, M.P.

(Condensed from Pall Mall Gazette.) Mr J. E. Redmond, M. P., who was entertained at dinner ou Saturday, in recognition of the great services which he has rendered to the Purnellite cause by his recent tour in Australia and ruu through the States, was seen a few mornings ago hy one of our staff at his lodgiugs in Ebury street. Mr 'and Mrs Redmond were found at breakfast, and our representative having been introduced to the lady, who is the most charming as well as the most striking of the young National "Leaguer's very notable Australian trophies, an hour's interesting conversation concerning the hon. member's experiences and impressions ensued. Mr Redmond, accompanied by his brother, Mr W. Redmond, the young gentleman who was in his absence nominated by Mr Parnell to a seat in the House of Commons as a reward for his exertions, travelled 65,000 miles in a year and four mouths. Ten months of this time wen? spent in Australia, where the brothers, enjoyed to co-operation of Mr J. W. Walsh, | one of the traversei-s in the Dublin i State trials, who acted as a sort of [ " ageut in advance." The Redinouds | entered upon their mission undermost I discouraging circumstances. A few days before they arrived news of Carey's revelations in the matter of the Phoenix Park tragedy had been published throughout Australia, and as they landed " cablegrams of the most lying character," imputing, among other things, complicity to Mr Parnell and his colleagues were placed in their hands. Mr Redmond expressed himself bitterly as to Ihe unfairness of the agencies or correspondents responsible for the supply of the information to the Australian Press ; in fact, he did not hesitate to speak of " the dishonest way they acted throughout my visit." "To give you an instance," said lie, " thoy cabled a report of Forster's attack upon Parnell, but for Pamell's r.iply we had to wait two mouths, wheu it reached us hy the mail.". Nor were sensational telegrams or suppressed replies their only trouble. The Orange party having largely the control of the public halls, they weie refused facilities for public meetings ; but seeing that under tlie circumstances they persistently held their gatherings in tents or in the open air, th« Orange trustees of the halls eventually " drew in their horns." "We addressed quite 200 meetings. There was not the slighest disturbance at any one of these meetings : we never allowed a man to be turned out." After a time, wheu the excitement caused by the informer's testimony had disappeared, the Redmonds succeeded in obtaining, in a considerable measure, the ear of the general public. '•What surprised them most? Well, I was greatly astonished that the extreme beauty, the great natural advantages, and the growing impor- , tance of Australia should be so little understood and so slightly appreciated iv this country. But I was even more surprised at the utter ignorance which prevails there among the great bulk of the population upon Irish affairs, extending almost to a lack of knowledge as to the geopraphical position of Ireland. There existed a complete disregard of the attitude of parties in Ireland. Everybody against the Government were classed out of hand as Fenians ; no distinction was made between constitutional and unconstitutional parties. Then, as to the meaning of the Land Act, ' Home Rule,' the disestablishment of the Church, and the like subjects, there was not the remotest conception. The National Party was regarded simply as aiming at the disintegration of the Empire." " I think," continued Mr Redmond, in answer to a question "I made a considerable impression upon them in regard to the question of self-government for Ireland. On other questions they were more difficult to deal with, bnt in regard to self-government I had a great lever upon which to work in their own position. Why should not Ireland, I used to ask, he permitted to enjoy the same measure of self-government which alone had made them both prosperous and loy-»! '? Tins \v„o a strong

J argument, to which they radily lis--1 tened." Invited to give his impressions of Australia Mr Redmond spoke in very contemptuous terms concerning " society" out there, while he highly praised the Press, though in respect to the newspapers he added : "In political controversy the journals are very bigoted. The Liberal organs are not half so advanced as the Liberal journals in this country, while the Tory organs are infinitely more Tory than the Tory organs here." But whatever imputations may be launched against Australian Press, it is clearly rank heresy in the Redmond household to utter a word against Australia itself. "Tt is the finest country in the world," enthusiastically breaks in Mrs Bcdmoi.d as her husband is describing in detail its beautiful climate, and tlie bountiful way in which it has otherwise been blessed. Mr Redmond speaks of it as " a glorious land," and insists that it only requires a population and v a system (in. some parts) for perserying water" to give it in time a unique position of prosperity among the countries of the world. Asked as to the position attained by Irishmen in Australia, Mr Redmond said: "Itis a very good country indeed for the Irishman who does not drink. Broadly, every one 1 met owned his own home, while some are in the highest positions, and not a few men of influence." " I have a very strong opinion as to emigration to Austi-alia," voluntarily continued the returned traveller. •« lam opposed to emigration from Ireland at all — I think there is room there for all but where Irishmen are determined to emigrate, I am powerfully convinced that they should emigrate to Australia rather than to America. In America, unless they can make arrangements to be taken out far West, there to settle themselves on the land, I see very little opening for them : for the large towns in America are as crowded as the large towns in this country. But in Australia the case is different. Apart from the land, with its great facilities for cultivation, every Irishman who is sober and industrious, can rely upon obtaining steady, wellpaid work. Wages are as high as in America, while the cost of living is not one-half. In every walk of life Australia shows signs of growth, and she is very prosperous. V How would Australia be likely to behave in the event of England being involved in a big war?" "There would he meetings called-in every district. Sir Henry Parks would rush about and patriotic resolutions would be everywhere promptly unanimously passed ; but the A ustialians would subscribe neither money nor men. They are essentially selfish. And, perhaps, they ought not to be otherwise, for they want all tho men and all the money for themselves to develop their country. Their loyalty does not extend much further than shouting for the Queen." " The chief aspiration of Irishmen in Australia and America," repeated Mr Redmond, "is Home Rule, and with nothing short of that will they be con*, teuted" ; and he concluded, as he began, «.* Considering everything, my mission was an astonishing success.''