IRISH AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 227, 25 September 1928, Page 7

IRISH AFFAIRS.

TRAFFIC PROBLEMS.

THE AMERICA* XMTASIOV.

RETURN OF A MILLIONAIRE.

(From Onr Own Correspondent.) DUBLIN, Au<rust 6.

The motor traffic in Dublin and Belfast is fast becoming a public tlanper, as well as a menace to the railways, in which so much capital its sunk. In both cities the local authorities are combatting the increasing traffic difficulties to the best of their ability, but with indifferent results. Belfast, which runs a tramway system, is fighting a-life-and-dt-ath struggle with a powerful bus combine, and at the moment is trying to induce the Home Office to approie of a new set of by-laws which would prohibit buses plying in a large central area of the city. The Irish Free State capital has no fewer than 10 bus services ot all sorts and conditions, and the congested state of the streets is almost beyond control. Between Dalkcy and the city 70 buses ply in opposition to the railway and the tramway. The Baron of Broadway. John J. Hanley, baron of Broadway— is dazzling Ireland with hie dollars. Twenty years ago he left "ould Ireland" a poor man. To-day he is a millionaire. "The baron" believes in publicity, and became the centre of attraction thr moment he arrived in Dublin, lit- wonwhite flannels and was seated *ith a party that included his private ;i.«ior and personal cinema operator in a magnificent £4000 motor car. "'Tin: baron' left his native parish of M nc gr. > , County Limerick, twenty years a jr. :■<; New York with the proverbial h<:' crown in his pocket. To-day h" owns? £2,800,000 worth of real Vsta: . •! other property in New York. On arrival in New York—a score years ago —he took service in a liquor saloon. In a couple of years he owned a saloon, and when prohibition came he transferred to real estate, in which he brought off a series of successes. A massive diamond adorns his shirt front, and he carries a £1000 walking stick, the handle of which is studded with diamonds, while he boasts a still more valuable stick which, he sa/s, is "all gold." John J. Hanley is certainly a fine publicity agent. This week he is hunting up "ould"' acquaintances in County Lime* rick. Free State Trade. More motor cars are being imported than ever by the Free State. The figures are £373,253 value for the first half of 1927 and £411,683 for the same period of 1928. Imports of petrol have increased from 10,708,U76 gallons in the first half of 1927 to 14,188,321 gallons in the same period this year. It is an extraordinary fact that though the imports of petrol increased by over 3,500,001) gallons, yet the value fell from £383,324 to £300,584. Smoking and drinking in the Free State, it would appear, is on the decline at the moment. The imports of lieer and spirits show a slight drop, while wines dropped from £143.670 to £116.763 Unmanufactured tobacco imports decreased from £332,660 to £212,000, while there was a decline in imports of manufactured tobacco from £20,074, to £18,514. The Free State's adverse trade balance was £13,220,000 on June 30, a fall of over £4.000,00 for the year. Soman Type for Gaelic The Civil Service Commission in Dublin announces that Roman type will be used in the printing of test papers in the Irish language, held by the Free State Civil Service Commissioner? from July 1, 1930 t and that from the game date in 1933 candidates will be required to uee Roman script in writing Irish. The change has been made with the intention of helping the Irish language movement. It is held that in the ca*e of email country newspapers Gaelic type font is a great expense, which is not justified by the amount of use it gets. Similarly in country solicitor?' offices typewriter* with Gaelic lettering are not often found. It is not thought that an embarrassment will be caused to pupils, as they will have ample time in which to familiarise themselves with the change. The Roman type will not be used in the printing of examination papers until 1930, and the pupils will not be required to employ the Roman script in writing until 1933, although those who are able to use it before then are free to do so. Launch of a Half Liner. The difficulties met with in launching half a ship were successfully overcome at Messrs. Harland and Wolfe's ship* building yard, Belfast, on the 2nd inst., when there was released from the slip* the new fore-end for the Royal mail m.v. Lochmonar. Towards the end of tftet year the Lochmonar ran ashore on the Mersey revetment, and was so badly damaged that, in order to salvage her, it was necessary to cut off about 150 ft of the fore-end of the ver eel. A temporary bulkhead was erected, and the after-part of the ship towed to Belfast, where she will be now placed in dry dock and the two sections joined together. American Invasion. Last week almost 300 Irish-American passengers arrived from New York bv the Cunard liner Samaria, and disembarked at Gal way. This was the first occasion on which a Cunard liner called at Galway, and the passengers met With a hearty reception. The call of the Samaria at Galway is another milestone in the record of Cunard associations with Ireland, which have extended over 00 years. The Cunard Company has been closely identified with the Irish Tourist Association and with its magnificent fleet and the provision of accommodation to meet the needs of a moderate pur ?e has played a big part in the revival of the Irish tourist industry. Early in Ift24 Mr. T. C. Hrierton, the chief Cunard re presentative in the Irish Free State visited America as the official dMcgaie of the then Irish Tourist AcMv-iation and in a tour of some 4000 miles visited Fome of the principal cities of the United States. The fruits of thi< xi-jt haw been fully amplified by thp e\er-increa*. ing numbers of touris-rs who are cumins to Ireland, not only in special group.', but also individually or in family parties Another instance of tliis big development in tourist traffic is the number of pa«-!-enners who are bringing their own motor (cars with them. Quito recently no fewer than !-ix carp 'vert landed at Cobh from a Cunard lim-r, whilst each week «ee« more can? being landed as each g**at Cunardcr innkes her regular call.