The Open Forum — Deputy's Denial

The Connaught Tribune, Saturday, June 14, 1930

Sir — I am compelled to answer Messrs.Broderick and Haverty. While I thank the latter for the interest he has taken on my behalf regarding the question which appeared in "The Connacht Tribune" on the 30th ult. By Mr. Broderick, I just want to inform him, or anybody else interested, that I have not one perch of the land referred to. Therefore, this is only a deliberate political concoction of Mr. Broderick or somebody else to try to lower my standing with the people of Galway.

The facts of the case are as follows: More that two years ago I took up the question of Taylor's land with the Land Commission and kept urging them on to take it over, while Mr. Brodrick did not know that such land was on the map. Now the Land Commission is preparing a scheme for the

Division of same. In the meantime, Taylor has the letting of the land. There are 8 ½ acres convenient to my father's house, and he took the grazing of portion of 5 acres of this, Taylor having horses on it also, and the remaining 3 ½ acres are useless.

So much for that, Mr. Roddy states there are 61 acres of roads and 17 perches of those lands taken over, which is true. Why didn't Mr. Brodrick ask the Parliamentary Secretary who held the remainder? Because it is Cumann na nGaedheal in Ballinamore, and easy to say a wealthy deputy had the greater portion of it when he knew the Ceann Comhairle would not let me question him. Moreover, when the estimate for the Land Commission was being discussed a year ago I raised the question of several estates in North Galway, including the Gowla Farm, on this estate, which the Land Commission have on hands for more than ten years, what assistance did I get from Mr. Brodrick, who is so terribly interested in the poor people of from $2 to $10 valuation? He voted, as he did this year, and every other year too, for the Land Commission, in the same manner as he did a short time ago when her voted against Dr. Ward's Old Age Pension Bill which meant to restore the pension in full to the poor people he talks so much about.

Then he is interested. In what, may I ask? To keep the present Government in power and the poor man down.

Mark Killilea.
Leinster House, Dublin, June 7, 1930.