THE IRISH FREE STATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19144, 9 October 1925, Page 9

THE IRISH FREE STATE.

DUBLIN'S ANNUAL GALA. RECORD NUMBER OF VISITORS, A FAMILY SALARY SCALE. [FROM OTJB OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] DUBLIN. Aug. 18. August is Dublin's gala time, and this year lias proved the best lor many years, pie Irish Horse Show is famous all over 4* world, and in spite of rumours of railway and coal strikes, it drew a of visitors to the city which has broken all previous records. The number of visitors to the show was 67,129. In 1924 the total was 59,000, and in 1923 52,000, wfiile in 1897, the greatest of all pre-war years, when the Bang, then Duke of York, was present, the total was 66,167. This year's figures make a notable record in view of the fact that the old social life of Ireland has practically disappeared, mo.st of the old gentry and well-to-do families having left the country within the last few years. But this year, the call of their homeland proved too strong for them and they returned en masse to visit the horse show and all the festivities which are attached to it. Among the visitors were many members of the British aristocracy, while almost every Irish title was well represented. The late Sir Hugh Lane left a will bequeathing his famous collection of pictures to London, but just before he left Ireland for the last time be drew up a codicil to this will, altering his decision and leaving the pictures to Dublin. Unfortunately the codicil was rot properly witnessed and Sir Hugh Lane died. That was ten years ago and ever since then the matter has been before the British public, but war and othftr conditions interfered with the settlement of the problem. A commission was established by the Imperial Parliament to discover if the codicil should stand. The commission decided that the wishes of Sir Hugh Lane were perfectly clear but that the codicil had no legal value, and that nothing could be done unless legislation was passed by the British Parliament to carry out his wishes. Dublin's claim to the pictures is not contested, but through a mere oversight on the part of the testator that claim is not recognised, and if ever the pictures are returned to Dublin it will be as a concession from the British Government. Recognising this, Dublin, and in faet Ireland as a whole, is pressing her claim to the pictures, which are of great value, and in spite of difficulties, which cannot be ignored, will carry on the fight to the bitter end. Civil Senrice Salaries. The Free State Government states that it requires at least another hundred clerical officers, but with the appointment of these officers it intends to bring in a new scale of pay. Unmarried men -vrill receive 25 per cent, less than those at present in the service, and women clerks will receive the same rates of pay as unmarried men. The following is the new scale which will not apply to those already in the service Unmarried men and women: On entry, £6O, rising to £7O at 18 years, and thence by annual increments of £5 to £l5O, with an efficiency bar at £l3). Married men: On mar riage (after 25 years of age), £l2O, increasing by Annual increments of £lO to £l4O, and then by £7 10s to £2OO. They will receive a lump sum on marriage equal to one year's back pay (the difference between the old and the new salaries). In addition allowances amounting to a maximum of £6O will be paid in respect of each dependent child up to 16 years of age, or in the case of invalids or children still at school, up to 21 years of age. A cost of living bonus will be paid in addition to the above salaries. Female officers must retire on marriage, but will receive a substantial gratuity. It is stated that the single men regard the new scale as a deliberate attempt to tax bachelors, but the salaries offered, in view of the high cost of living in Ireland, are not l'' ely to increase the rush to the marriage market. These salaries compare very unfavourably with those which can be earned in commercial or professional circles. Industrial Conditions. Cattle farming and agriculture, the mainstay of the Free State, continue in a very precarious condition, and unless some ; assistance is given by the Government very shortly, the country will find itself in a bad way, and its chances of prosperity will be seriously affected. The Irish railways are also in a very critical state. Owing to the unsettled state of the country, high wages and bad trade, their receipts have fallen so low that they are unable to pay their way, much less dividends. It is expected that some of the small branch lines will be compelled to close down altogether very shortly. It is rumoured that the Government has no intention of helping with a subsidy but in- j tends to nationalise the railways of the Free State. A curious state of affairs has arisen in connection with footwear. A dnty of 15 per cent, was imposed on all footwear entering the Free State to protect the ; Irish industry. For the first five months | of this year, the imports show a decline j of £136,000 in value, but the actual quan- | tity imported has increased by 11,783 ! pairs. This points to a reduction of ' prices by the British manufacturers to counter-act the import duty and the Irish manufacturers are where they were before the duty was imposed.