Northern Ireland

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 19 January 1938, Page 4

Northern Ireland

Notes on the News

Northern Ireland, or Ulster, whose position will be under review in rhe discussions between Mr. de Valera and the British Government, has an area of 5237 square miles, and a population estimated at 1,300,000. Tlie capital is Belfast, with a population of about 425,000. The Governor is the Duke of Abereorn, who has occupied the position for 15 years. Viscount Oraigavon (Sir James Craig) has been Prime Minister since 1921.

Northern Ireland contains sis of the counties of Ulster. These counties are Antrim, Armagh. Down, Londonderry, Fermanagh, and Tyrone. In the general election of 1933, there were returned 27 Unionists, 9 Nationalists. 2 Independent Unionists, 2 Labour. 1 Fiorina Fail, and 1 I.R.A. Republican. A separate parliamentary and executive Government for Northern Ireland was established in 1920. and “contracted out” of the newly-established Irish Free State in December, 1922. The Parliament consists of a Senate of 20 and House of Commons of 52. both

elected with power to legislate in local matters except such as are of Imperial concern or specifically reserved to rhe Imperial Parliament. Northern Ireland returns 13 members to the British House of Commons.

The hulk of the taxation is imposed and collected hy the Imperial authorities, which makes certain deductions and remits the remainder to the local exchequer.

The religious census shows the proportions in tlie following order: Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Protestant Episcopalians. Methodists. and other professions.

Linen weaviug and shipbuilding are the V-liief industries, both con*rolled in Belfast. Unemployment has been severe. Agriculture is an important industry ;*erpignan Perpignan, where the Australian Rugby League team defeated the Catalans hy 53 points to 2, is a towu in the department of Pyrenees-Orieutales, France, on the river Tet, 35 miles south-west of Narhonne It has au ecclesiastical college, and is noted for its •tlier educational facilities If possesses also a strong citadel and au old cathedral. The chief articles of trade are Roussillon wine and silk The population is about 50.000. Narhonne is 13 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. with which it is eon uected by the Canal du Midi Pyrenees-Orieutales. a maritime and frontier department of South France lies at the eastern extremity of ‘he country, and is very mountainous except for the plain of Roussillon, where fruits, including vines, are grown Tennessee Valley Authority It is stated that the cities whole sale supply of electricity is obtainable in the United States from the Tonne* see Valley Authority. The purposes of the Tennessee Vrl Icy Authority as approved hy Cun tion of Govern men r.-owned properties in the vicinity of Muscle Shoals, and unified development and control of the water resources of the Tennessee River and its tributaries through tfie construction of dams to provide navigation. control floods and a< an important incident thereto, produce power: (2) utilisation of the mover fo, the purpose of determining the relative costs of public and private power op oration, and distribute.n of this power to the greatest number of people: (3) experimentation to lower the cost of production, distribution, and application of the major elements of fertilisers. and promotion of the national defence hy maintaining a plant ready to manufacture nitrates.