The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 December 1913, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23.

I'LSTEK AND HOME PULE. Mien Juts been heard of Ulster's anti-Home Rule campaign during the past months, and much space devoted to its volunteer army and Sir Edward Carson's Provisional Oofcrnment, which he threatens to set up under the protection ol' the bayonets of the volunteers, when the Home Rule jii 11 becomes law about the middle of next year. I nder the Parliament Act a bill passed by the Commons llireo limes in two years becomes law in spile of (lie House of Lords. The Home Rule Bill has been through twice and will.come •up again about next May. Hitherto the Lords have always blocked j|, bill now (hey are powerless, and as Home Rule is now so certain and so near, a few -figures concerning Ulster will be very interesting- They will be surprising to those who, .judging by the noise and wild I brents made by the anli-Ilome uule ('lenient, may have thought thai in its polities and religion the province is s:.lid in lis opposition h.i the measure for which the rest of Ireland has fought so, long. The total population of Ireland is -1,->BI,OOO. that of Ulster being 1 ,">BO,OOO. The latter are divided into: Roman Catholics f>90,000 and Protestants 890,000. At the lowest estimate 10 per cent.'of the Pro'tcstanls are Home Rulers, thus accounting for the fact that out of the •)•'! members "Ulster sends to Westminster, IT arc Nationalists. Even the four north-castern counties (which, include .Melfast and Londonderry) contain -11.(5,-in', .Roman Catholics against 729,024 Protestants. On Ulster's claim that il is the most advanced province in education, wealth, etc., the following have some bearing: Of 900,000' people - who neither read nor write, 'j24,000 are in Ulster. The rateable valuation per hoiid of four provinces is Leinsfer, £4 8s (id: I Ist or, .£ ? > 9s 8d : Minister, i'-'i 4s 8d ; and Conmi ugh t, £-2 -5s Id. During the three years 1908, 1909. and 1910, the emigration figures were:

Leinster, 12,502; Con naught, 1.9,f)2 : >: Minister. 2 : > ( 2 : >(): and IHster 120.