IRISH FREE STATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21987, 23 June 1933, Page 2

IRISH FREE STATE

MR DE VALERA’S FOLLIES

GHOST OF REPUDIATION.

Mr de Valera’s troubles with the Irish Free State teachers, civil servants, farmers, and. county councils show that his follies are coming home to roost, and that troubles are gathering fast round the Government of which he is the head. He called up the ghost of repudiation, but is finding, to his cost (says the Morning Post) that he cannot control its movements.

Primary school teachers all over the Free State came out on strike recently, for one day only, as a protest against the “ cuts ” in their salaries which the Government imposed as part of an economy scheme, rendered necessary by the financial straits to which Mr de Valera had reduced the country. There was little public sympathy for tne teachers. No section of the community played a bigger part in securing the return of Mr de Valera to power at the last election. If Mr de Valera can ignore the teachers and the civil servants, who are also protesting vigorously against the “ cuts ” to which they are being subjected, he cannot so readily discount the general atmosphere of repudiation of debts which is abroad, and the mutinous spirit of public bodies. If Mr de Valera can repudiate the payment of the land annuities, the farmers see no reason why they should not repudiate payment of rent, rates, and other liabilities.

As the Government has cut down the grants in relief of rates on agricultural land, there has been a large increase in the rate demands of the local authorities, at a time when farmers arc in a parlous plight as a result of the loss of their markets in Great Britain through Mr de Valera’s economic war. Everywhere farmers are declaring that they cannot, and will not, pay the increased rate, and the prospects of collecting it are remote. Two county councils—Dublin and Kilkenny: —have mutinied, and decided that they will not attempt to levy an increased rate, even though it is necessary for carrying on the county services. All over the Free State the possibility of the councils being dissolved and replaced by paid commissioners is being discussed. The Government is reluctant to take such a step, and is trying to intimidate councillors.

Those councils which have thought it prudent to strike the necessary rate are faced with the wrath of organised bodies of farmers who have expressed their determination not to pay. The Irish banks are uneasy at a campaign for the enforcement of a general scheme of reduction of farmers’ liabilities to banks. The Irish Banks’ Standing Committee has been compelled to issue a statement.

This points out that while the banks are prepared to give sympathetic consideration to each case on its merits any general formula devised for the reduction of farmers’ liabilities to banks (which are very considerable) would react injuriously on banking interests and on the welfare of the country.

Large numbers of country shopkeepers are in difficulties through inability to get in accounts owing to them by farmers who cannot pay, and many of whom are now in no mood to try to pay.