A Lesson From Ireland

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 261, 2 August 1939, Page 12

A Lesson From Ireland

. Sir, —In the July nu mber of the "Na•tional Review” the following comments on Southern Ireland’ seem of peculiar interest to all New Zealanders, and I quote them without comment except; that it would be interesting to compare New Zealand figures for increase iu taxation and increase in civil servants :— Agitation invariably has its roots in material conditions, and beyond doubt the economic position in Southern Ireland is steadily going from bad to worse. Agriculture, the only industry that counts, was brought to the verge of collapse during the “economic war.” The farming community had to bear the brunt of the.struggle. . . . Everywhere the farming community is in a state o£ seething discontent. The official policy has been to make the country self-contained, and to promote industrial experiments at the expense of agriculture.' High tariffs, quotas and prohibitions have been tried. By such means the boaie market haw been reserved for the products of the local State-aided factories, and, while tlie consumer is limited in his choice as to wbat he can buy, the price which he is obliged to ,pay for the home-produced article, often of an inferior kind, is the price of the importiHl article plus the duty. 'Rhe immediate cotiisoquence has been an abnormal rise in the cost of living, with the result that the purchasing power of 20/- has been reduced to less than 15/- for foodstuffs ami to about 16/- for other coniuioilitics. Apart from public relief works, there is little employment to be had. The crushing burden of taxation, may be gauged from the fact that with a falling production and dwindling population, taxation. yields £9.000.000 more than seven years ago. During tho same period, in accordance with the practice of rewarding political followers, the ranks of the Civil Service have been increased by upward of 4900 individuals. . . . ~ Tet<? ” , A FARMER. Hastings, July SI.