2 DECEMBER 1932, Page 2

- Mr. de Valera's Problems About the appointment of Mr. Donal

Buckley as Governor-General of the Irish Free State there is nothing more to be said than that Mr. Donal Buckler has been appointed Governor-General of the Irish Free State. Mr. de Valera chose him, and the King, acting constitutionally as he invariably does, appointed him. Whereupon. Mr. Buckley took the oath like his pre. decessors. Mr. de Valera himself, returning after a week of very efficient chairmanship of the League of Nations Council, is faced with serious trouble on the railways, liable to involve 'not merely a strike, but an adverse vote in the Dail as result of the transference of the allegiance of the seven Labour Members. The verdict given by the Wages Board entails a 10 per cent. reduction of wages. The Government might devise some financial expedient for putting that right—it is as easy to subsidize railwaymen as farmers—but, in addition, its new Transport Bill fails to provide for railway nationali- zation, which the Labour Party insistently demands. The seven votes which keep Mr. de Valera in power are more in the balance than usual. _