IRISH LOYALISTS,

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 80, 6 April 1926, Page 15

IRISH LOYALISTS,

STARVING IN DUBLIN.

PROBLEM OF THE FCTUPvE.

• "The public "does not-realise that ex-' service men are living in a hostile atmosphere in Southern Ireland, where unemployment is far "more extensive than it is in England, and where the cost of living is higher. They are further handicapped in obtaining work by reason of the fact that employment is chiefly reserved for those who have not served in the British Army." The above is a clause from a letter received by ilr. L. 0. H. Tripp, of Wellington, in his position as chairman of the War Eelief Association of Wellington, from Lordr Northumberland, chairman of the Southern Irish Loyalists' Belief Association. The writer says:— "In the Dublin area alone our central office have given grants—almost wholly in the form of food tickets—to 1047 eases, involving 4477 individuals. The total weekly income of these ex-service men was £340 IS/4, or an average of C/ 0 per week going into each home, out of which rent, food, fuel and clothing had to be provided, many of them being cases of married men with families. How they exist at all is indeed a mystery. Very little assistance has been granted by the British Legion, in spite of the large amount of correspondence and conferences with them during the past year. There is no word of complaint from these helpless men, only a bare recital of their service to this country in its time of stress, and the fact that they are starving. It is a problem as to what the future of these ex-service men is to 'be; possibly some expensive scheme of immigration" wßuld meet the case, but that would clearly be i the duty of the Government, and not a charitable organisation, to undertake. We are, however, endeavouring on a small seale —as far as our funds will allow—to help as many as possible to emigrate, as they are just the type for the colonies, the majority of them having been born and brought up on farms, thus having a .full knowledge of agriculture, dairying, etc! The cost of assisted passages to Xew Zealand for single men, approved as farm workers, also married men and women, is £11 each. It is for this purpose that, we now ask you to consider this appeal favourably, and any money which you could kindly collect _ for us „ would, be. spent either on temporary relief for these deserving people or for emigration purposs, as desired."

It was decided that the association receive any moneys donated for the purpose of migrating the people referred to in the letter. Copies of the letter are also to be forwarded to other principal war relief societies in Xew Zealand. - . • •