AN IRISH PROTEST.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 56, 9 March 1929, Page 20

AN IRISH PROTEST.

"THE POOREST STATE"

: Recently the '•'lrish Times,'.', published in Belfast, was asked what the principal Cabinet Ministers in the different portions of the British Empire were receiving as a monetary consideration, the contention being that Northern Ireland paid more than any other Government, while it was. far from being among the wealthy portions of the Empire. In answering the query, the "Irish Times" said: "The British Prime Minister, of course, is only directly responsible for Great Britain; he has immense responsibilities in connection with, the various Dominions and colonies, while on the other hand the responsibility of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland begins and ends with t'ae Six Counties," says the writer. "Each country has naturally Ministers of different kinds, but the salaries given: below refer to the Ministers, approximating as closely as possible to the.members of the Northern Ireland Government." He then enumerates-seven. Governments, showing the size of tho populations over which they have control, and tho area, together with the salaries of the Prime Ministers and tho principal members of Cabinet.GREAT BRITAIN. Great Britain —Area, 121,633 square miles; population, 47,146,506. Prime Minister, £5000. Chancellor of the Exchequer, £5000. Home Secretary; £0000. Minister for Education, £.2000. Minister for Labour, £2000, Minister for Agriculture, £2000. NORTHERN IRELAND. Northern Ireland—Area, 3,351,446 acres (5236 squaro miles); population, 1,256,322. Prime Minister: Salary, £3200; hospitality, £1750; total, £4950. Minister for Finance, £2000. Minister for Home Affairs, £2000. Minister for Labour, £2000. Minister for Agriculture, £2000. THE FREE STATE. Irish Free Stato—Area, 17,024,481 acres (26,600 square miles); population, 2,985,000* President, £2500. ■ Minister for Finance, £1700. Minister for Agriculture, £1700. Minister for Home Atfairs, £1700. Minister for Education, £1700. DOMINION OF CANADA. Dominion of Canada—Area, 3,684,723 squaro miles; population, 8,788,4.83. Primo Minister, £3000. Minister for Finance, £2000. Minister for Home Affairs, £2000. Minister for Agriculture, £2000. Minister for Labour, £2000. AUSTRALIA. . Commonwealth of Australia—Area, 2,974,381 squaro miles; . population, 6,262,720. Prime Minister, £2100. Minister for Finance, £1650. Minister for Home Affairs, £1650. Minister for Labour, £1650. NEW ZEALAND. Now Zealand—Area, 104,916 square miles; population, 1,463,278. Primo Minister, £2000. Minister for Finance, £1170. Minister.for Labour. £1170. Minister for Home Affairs, £1170. Minister of Agriculture, £1170. ' Minister for Education, £1170, SOUTH AFRICA. "South African-Area, 1,256,028 square miles; population, 14,000,000. Primo Minister, £3500. Minister for Education, £2500. Minister for Finance, £2500. Minister for Agriculture, £2500. Minister for Labour, £2500. "Theso figures tell their own tale,"i says the "Irish Times," "and show conclusively that the Government of Northern Ireland is the costliest in tho whole of the English-speaking world. Why this shofcld bo so it is difficult to a 'understand. If the Sis Counties wero the richest Stato in tho British Empire, thero might be some oxcuse for tho outrageous extravagance proved in tho figures given aboro, but no one can say that Northern Ireland is even, moderately rich compared with some of the colonies, while the industrial, business, and commercial depression in the Six Counties at the present time is far worse than in any other part. "So it comes to this, that tho poorest State at the worst period in its existence is burdened with the costliest Government. Truly, tho people of Northorn Ireland aro long-suffering! They will, however, have an early opportunity of showing in the polling booths what they think of the extravagance which has been the chief characteristic of tho Northern Government since it came into office in June, 1921."