HISTORICAL ISLE OF MAN

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 108, 31 January 1934, Page 8

HISTORICAL ISLE OF MAN

Popular Holiday Resort A CONSTITUTION DATING 1000 YEARS BACK Mainly on account of its mild climate, its superb watering places and its abounding historical interest, the Isle of Mau in recent years has come to be one of the most important holiday resorts of Great Britain. Although the island boasts of only '227 square miles in area, upon which a population of 50,000 subsist, its many points of interest, particu-laily ,froDi the historical and point of view, far outnumber those of places many times bigger and much better known. . Some interesting facts concerning this little isle (Vatutin Veg Veen) were given in an interview yesterday by Mr. A. D. McEvoy, of Douglas,. Isle of Man, who. with Mrs. McEvoy, is at present on a holiday visit to New Zealand. Although farming was the basic industry of the island, Mr. McEvoy said, it depended more upon the tourist traffic than upon anything else. About 500,000 visitors from England came to the island, each summer, and at Douglas was one of the most modern seaside resorts in the British Isles. It boasts of the largest ballroom in the world, capable of holding 3000 couples, while there was a large selection of picture and other theatres. It was estimated that 32,000 persons could be entertained Indoors at once. The Isle of Man had an interesting history, Mr. McEvoy said. . From the ■sixth to the ninth century it was ruled by Welsh kings. These were (followed by a Scandinavian dynasty, who in turn yielded their rights to Alexander 111 of Scotland in 1266. In <1406 the island was granted to the (Stanleys (Earls of Derby), and was ipurcluised by the British Government after long negotiations (1765-1829) from the Dukes of Athol* who held it from 1735, The first Derby was run in the Isle of Man near Castletown. Manx Legislature. The Manx Legislature consisted of a Legislative Council, comprising the ■Lieutenant-Governor and ten members, and the House of Keys, the popularly elected chamber of the Island, consistin'" of 24 members. These 24 members were elected by adult suffrage, eight by the towns, and 16 by the parish and village districts, known as “sheadings.” The Lieutenant-Governor was appointed by the British Crown for a sevenyear period. He was also Chancellor of the Exchequer, and was assisted by a consultative committee consisting of six members selected from both houses of legislature. Customs duties and Income tax were imposed by this committee, and all expenditure was voted. It was interesting to note that the Manx Parliament had been in existence under Its present constitution for over 1000 years, Mr. McEvoy continued. The island was in a prosperous condition generally, the national revenue being derived from three main sources, Customs duties, income tax. and to the extent of a few thousand pounds, fines, rents, and fees. There was no national debt, while there was an accumulated fund arising from surplus taxation. Women owning pvol>erty had, over a period of hundreds of years, enjoyed the privilege of voting, and now universal franchise had been adopted. The laws of the,island had to pass the V: ~ise of Keys in three readings, the Legislative Council similarly, and were submitted finally to the Home Office for Royal assent. They did not become Jaw, however, until promulgated at Tynwald Hill, St. John's, ou July 5 of each year. Tynwald Hill consisted of three tiers built of soil taken from each parish in the island. Thus it was considered neutral territory where every citizen had the right to air any grievance in proper ,constitutional form. The laws were first read in Manx and then in English. Manx Language Dying. The Manx language was dying out very quickly, but strenuous efforts were being made to revive it to a certain extent. A difficulty lay in the faet that the majority of the people on the Island were of English, Irish, and Scottish extraction, there being only 20 per cent, who could claim pure .Manx descent. Manx was not a subject taught in the schools and colleges. but it was likely that it might be included in the curriculum later, though there were many difficulties in the way. Mr. McEvoy mentioned that he was chairman of the Manx district branch of the British Legion, and Manxmen were proud of the fact that out of a papulation of 50,000, .over 8000 men joined the colours, 1170 never returning. The island was self-supporting, so far as foodstuffs were concerned, and in wartime, in addition to sustaining its own. people, it had to feed 30,000 German civilian prisoners, who were detained in two huge camps. Mr. and Mrs. McEvoy expressed themselves as being charmed with New Zealand and its people, having motored down from Auckland via Rotorua and Napier, bnd they notice particularly the purity of the language spoken, so much so. indeed, that they find it hard to realise that they are so far from home. They came out ria Australia. and will lie returning via Panama Canal.