IRISH ISLANDERS' RATES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1194, 1 August 1911, Page 5

IRISH ISLANDERS' RATES.

~» COLLECTOR TAKES A GUNBOAT. Thero has been a good deal of trouble of late in the remote Arran Islands (writes tho Irish correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" on June 22) over tho demand of tho Gahvay County Council for rates. Tho inhabitants of tho Middle and South Islan'ils are five years or more in arrears, and all efforts to get in the rates have tailed. This, of course, is mainly due to the islanders' poor circumstance's. The Tecentjy-clected Galway County Council recently determined to take a definite step towards the levying of the rates. The ordinary demands tor payment having been ignored, arrangements were inado tor more drastic action. During the present week the visit of the rate-collector, backed up by a force of police, was daily expected by the islandors. A gunboat was to ho at the disposal of the invaders, and in the event of Ihe rates net being forthcoming distrainee on the cattle wero to be made. However, a conference was held on Monday, the islanders having the advantage of the counsel of the parish priest, Father F.yvaghcr. It was arranged to make an offer to the County Council to pay off one and a half year's arrears, and undertake to pay the current rates up to 1912 upon certain conditions relating to the reconstitution of tho islands as a separate district. Tho County Council appointed one of their members to negotiate, nnd it i 3 hoped that a permanent satisfactory settlement may be come to. ■