SAPPER J. E. M'MANUS IN' IRELAND.

Evening Star, Issue 16547, 5 October 1917, Page 8

SAPPER J. E. M'MANUS IN' IRELAND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, The letter of Sapper M’Manus in your paper of last evening is interesting. His statements as to the position of things in Ireland are, however, in many cases incorrect, probably because he was relying on information supplied, and not having the opportunity to see things for himself. Belfast has a large working popula-three-fourths of whom are unionists and it is they, not the capitalists and employers, who return the Unionist M.P.a. The following extracts from a letter published in the ‘Morning Post’ places the matter in a , very different light, and it looks as if those who “ told ” and those who “ assured ” Sapper M’Manus were themselves a bit ignorant:—“ Thanks to the excellent municipal administration, Belfast taxation is low. and tho Ulster capital has long boasted the lowest percentage of pauperism and unemployment of any city or town in the United Kingdom. In the country districts the same happy, state of things has been brought about. till their own land, and the smallest woufcer has a good house over

his head ■ and plenty of food in his stqraach.. In-the counties where unionism predominates ■ the agricultural laborer has standard of wages than in any Nationalist country. •. ■'.- . ‘Have you had any visits from the red-flaggers here?’ .1 inquired-last week of< a stolid-faced riveter in the Belfast shipyards. An emphatic nod was the 1 answer. ‘.What did you do to them?’ I asked. - The reply was a flash of steely , work-tired eyes and a downward jerk of a thumb in the direction of an exceedingly uninviting pool of oily water. The Ulster folk have learnt by bitter experience to discriminate, and if they had the reins ;of Government in their hands half the cranks and pacifists would long ago have been hanged as hidi as■ -Hainan.”—l am, etc., ; ° - - . R.G.R. October 4.