IRELAND’S LOST CITIZENS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2095, 1 June 1907, Page 1

IRELAND’S LOST CITIZENS.

No more pathetic statistics are issued under the authority of the British Government than, those given in the yearly returns of emigrants from Ireland (says a London paper). That for 1906 is no exception to tho rule, Showing as it does an increase of 4668 native emigrants as compared with 1905. It is seen that during 1906 as many as 35,918, or 8.2 per thousand of the estimated population of Ireland in Hie middle' of the year left Irish ports for other countries.' Of these 574 were not of Irish bjrtl). Aithough, as stated, the figures are higher than those of the previous year, a modicum of comfort may l>e found in the fact that they are below the average of the preced-

ing five years by 2090. Of tho limp,-, ly Irish emigrants the greatest number were'from the province of Ulster (12,331). Munster comes next with 10,054, Connaught and Leinster following with 7880 and 5079 respectively. Reckoned on the basis of proportion to tho population, Connaught leads easily, with 1?.2 per thousand': 'During the last fifty-six years no fewer than 4,063,933 natives of Ireland h-uve left their country. The number is equivalent to 75.9 per cent of the average population. The United States of America, of course, is the chief destination of Irish emigrants. Last year 20,079 went thither, while only 4147 chose to remain under the British flag- by seeking asylum in our colonies, ttjiese tIM'CQ-foiu'ths —3404 to be precise—chose Canada as their new home, 295 going to South Africa, and 343 to Australia. The saddest reflection of all, perhaps, is that caused by a study of the age statistics of the emigrants. Last year Ireland lost as citizens 29,835 persons in the prime of life, between the ages of 25 and 45, '