THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 413, 23 January 1909, Page 5

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

LAND PURCHASE. SIR HORACE PLUNKETT APPROVES. FARMERS' SOCIETIES. (BY TILEOBirn—ritESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Rec. January 22, 10.25 p.m.) London, January 22. A speech on Irish land purchase was delivered, at Birmingham by Sir Horace Phinkett,. president of the Irish Agricultural. Organisation Society, and. formerly VicePresident of the Department of Agriculture and .Technical Instruction for Ireland. Sir Horace Urged the completion of- the land;purchase scheme, and declared that if .Ireland was decently governed during the 'nest twenty years, the money advanced would be absolutely seouro.; •- Ho added that a thousand societies of farmers, with a hundred thousand members, had been formed in Ireland since 1889, and the* turnover greatly exceeded two.millions. •

AGRICULTURAL CO-OPERATION. Sir Horace Phmketfc has been active in promoting agricultural co-operation since 1889. In .'1894 he founded the Irish " Agricultural Organisation Society. He. has been described as "a constructive reformer, who has' done wonders for the industries of his native land"; and he himself has put on record, in his muchquoted "Ireland in the. New Century.'- the yalue of- the farmers' societies. For instance, "although these experiment schemes (agricultural experiments intended .for the; guidance of farmers) were issued to the County Councils and the agricultural'public generally, it was, only -the fanners organised in societies who were really ,in a position to take part in them. Some of these experiments,' indeed, could not be carried out at all except through suoh'societies." ■'■'.'-. -. '. . The Secretary for Ireland (Mr. Birrell) estimates that the Irish land-purchase scheme will cost. 180 millions instead of, the 100 millions originally l estimated, and .he has, introduced a Bill to strengthen the finance of the 1903 Act .(which has practically broken down) by the issue of a new 3 per cent. Irish land stock. The Nationalists threaten reprisals if this Bill'does not pass..,.' '■'■'.