THE IRISH LEADERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9233, 20 August 1901, Page 3

THE IRISH LEADERS.

E.'eotric Telegraph— Copyright— United Preas Association. (Received August 20, 2.55 p.m.) LONDON, August 20. Mr Dillon denies that Mr Davitt spoke at the same meeting as O'Donovan Rossa *t Chicago. Mr Davitt, m a speech at Milwaukie, said the Irish would not. fight England with the weapons of anarchy.

The National Dairy Association is representing to the Government the evil that enforcement of an eight hours' day m dairying would cause M»*an industry which is not. only the salvation of the small settler, but a permanent factor m the success of the Government's land settlement policy. It is estimated^ that, under existing conditions the dairy farmer must receive at least 3d per gallon net for his milk to pay his way, and the ruling price runs from 3d to 3jsd. It is contended that if dairy factory workers are brought under the provisions of the Bill, the staffs of the majority of factories will have to be doubled, increasing the cost of manufacture by id per lb, which will fall on the fanner and absorb his present profit. The factory hand, it is urged, though hard-wbrked m the busy season, is to some extent compensated by easier times during the slack season.

The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, speaking on the Money-lenders Bill m the House the other night, mentioned a case m which a woman borrowed ±!sr agreeing to pay 5s a week interest. At the end' of the first year, as she had! been, unable, to keep up the whole of her payments, she had paid only £8 8s 6d. At the end of the second year she had paid £21 ss, and still owed the £5. Owing to arrears being unpaid the charge was increased to 7s 6d, and when the woman's husband heard of the matter, and the final settlement was made, the interest paid amounted to £31 8s 6d, * while there was still claimed to be dwe to the money-lender the sum of £7 7s. These charges were something at the rate of 250 per cent, per annum. The Minister admitted that this was an extreme case, but he held that there was a necessity for some Bill to meet cases of the kind. Air Laurenson mentioned a case at Christchurch m which interest of 700 per cent, was charged The Magistrate ordered the debtor to pay 6d per week, which, he said, woxild enable the debt to be liquidated m 700 years.