Conditions in Ireland

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 276, 22 November 1935, Page 9

Conditions in Ireland

COUNTRY POLK POOR BUT CHEERFUL. Intense interest was created in parts cf rural Ireland by tho recent appointment by the Chief Justico at Dublin, at tho request of the New South Wales Courts, of a Commissioner to tako evidence relating to claims to share in tho intestate estate of Martin Edward Burke, says tho Sydney Morning Herald. This estate, which amounts to about £40,000, awaits distribution by tho Public Trustee of New South Wales, aud there havo been hundreds of claimants.

Tho Chief Justice appointed Mr Gerald Hogan, KC., Master of the Supreme Court of the Irish Free State, to take the evidence obtainable, and at the sittings of the Commission, Mr S. A. Thompson, of the New South Wales Bar, who has just returned to Sydney, represented the Public Trustee. Mr Thompson spent about a month with Mr Horan, K.C., visiting various parts of Clare, Galway, Roscommon, aud Tipperary, in which ovidenee was available. Sometimes the Commissioner heard evidence in a Court, but frequently owing to the ago of witnesses or their disinclination to attend a Court, tho Commissioner took evidence from them at their dwellings. Mr Thompson was thus afforded opportunity of meet iDg Irish country people in a rather unusual way. and of becoming acquainted with their conditions of life. “Most of our time,” he said, “was spent among people of the small farming class, living on the poor country of the west. They aro very poor—Cut extraordinarily cheerful and exceedingly courteous. Owing to tho economic war, which practically closes the English market to them, their produce is virtually unsaleable, but they manage somehow to carry on without money mainly, it would appear, by barter—and 1 was assured that in tho event of a General- Election these poor but cheerful peasants would vote again for Mr dc Valera, notwithstanding tho grave difficulties his policy has created for them. Feature of Villages. “One of the features of village life in tho west is the prevalence of unemployment. la any village at any time one will see knots of young men standing idly about. There is simply nothing fer them to do. They cannot even mi grate, for that avenue of relief is : closed. There are no signs of disaffection, but one may detect a unanimous desire that the English Government will not interfere in Irish affairs.”

In contrast with the country districts, Mr Thompson found Dublin a prosperous, well-kept city. Building had been active for some time, and now suburbs, of fine-looking brick houses, havo been constructed.

Conversations with friends and visits to the Dail, which was in session, left Mr Thompson with tho impression that both sides in Irish politics were desirous of avoiding further rupture. He found the Attornoy-General hopeful that a way would be found of reaching settlement of tho land annuities problem, and thus healing the economic breach with England. Members of the Opposition, he learned, were not anxious to see further English political interference, their general desiro being that matters should be allowed to settle themselves. “I heard Mr do Valera speaking,” said Mr Thompson, “and was greatly impressed by his earnestness and delivery. Among the Opposition there are a number of able men, and judging from the debates I listened to, I would say that the weight of ability is on that side of tho Dail.

“In Western Ireland one saw deplorable poverty. In Germany one saw something quite different. It is a busy, prosperous country—tho public services conducted with the utmost efficiency, tho town and cities thriving industrially, the peoplo well-dressed and happylooking—and everything is relatively very cheap. Enormous numbers ot peoplo Irom. England and America visit Germany nbwadays, ono explanation of this being‘the advantages offered to visitors by the system of restored marks, which, practically does away with the inequalities created by exchange. Two things which may have particular significance strike one in travelling about Germany. One is the aJlembracing character of the Hitler Youth Movement; tho other the prominence of the warnings postod in practically every town thnt Jews aro not wanted there.”