IRELAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18827, 3 April 1923, Page 7

IRELAND

* FREE STATE TARIFF. AMAZING SCENES ON ULSTER BORDER. GUARDING AGAINST, SMUGGLING. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON,-April 1. The inauguration of the Free State tariff caused amazing scenes on the Ulster border. Residents of the Free State used all kinds of vehicles to rush provisions across tho border in order to evade the Customs. Thousands of householders have accumulated vast quantities of goods sufficient for six months. Hundreds of motor cars were also sent across. Tho Free State officials, with a view to stopping smuggling, have placed guards on the frontier.—A. and N.Z. Cable. “A THIRD PARTY.” , i ROVING GANG 01' ROBBERS. LONDON, March 51.

Fifty-three tombstones in the Belfast Protestant Cemetery were defaced and smashed, apparently by a gang armed with sledge-hammers and crowbars. Reprisals are threatened. A roving gang, known as the “Third Party,” belonging to neither side, has appeared in Ireland, The gang is robbing all classes indiscriminately. Both Free Staters and Republicans are watching tlie movements of these robbers. — Reuter. ULSTER’S FINANCES. FREE STATE BUDGET. LONDON, April 1. Ulster’s first financial year resulted in a surplus of £70,000, after contributing £6,000,000 to the Imperial Exchequer. The Free State Budget estimates that the deficit will be £20,000,000. The "expenditure includes £10,666,000 on the army and £11,000,000 on compensation owing to rebel operations.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ENVOYS IN AUSTRALIA. PROTEST BY PROTESTANTS. SYDNEY, April 2. meeting in the Domain, held under the auspices of Protestant bodies and the Orange Lodge, protested against the inaction of the Commonwealth Government in respect of the Irish Republican envoys. An opposition meeting, convened by the Irish Self-determination League, protested against attempts to stifle free speech.—A. and N.Z. Cable. WOMEN’S GAOL. DEPLORABLE STAiTE OF AFFAIRS. LONDON, April 2. . (Received April 2, at 9-20 p.m.) The Morning Post’s Dublin correspondent reports a deplorable state of affairs in the women’s in Kilmaiaham, where women axe confined for taking part in Republican propaganda and assisting in arson and armed outrages. The elementary sanitary necessities are lacking. There are five or six women in single cells. The beds been taken from all the prisoners, and the privilege of writing letters has been withdrawn. Ninety-one women since March 21 have been hunger striking.—A. and N.Z. Cable. i