LIFE IN THE IRISH FREE STATE.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1924, Page 4

LIFE IN THE IRISH FREE STATE.

(By a Dublin Man.) Dear old Dublin is slowly recovering Sroni the war fever, and Dark llosaleen, though brought to the edge of the grave, it rapidly regaining the wonderful charm which hinds the wandering Celt in silken chains. Less than two years ago the citizens of the metropolis were afraid to venture outside their doors in the evening, while rifle and machine-gun fire never ceased day or night in one part or other of the city; but now the sound of a revolver shot makes one look up with a start mul say, "What can that be:-” Oilier countries do not realise that from 1910 to the lighting in Dublin was desperate and continuous, and the the nc-w Irish Government has only just managed to get the latest set of revolutionists in hand; indeed, at the present moment (March 1-) it begins to look as if there would ho another outburst on the part of the followers of Do Valera.

There is great bustle of business and gaiety in Dublin, and in all the other towns of Ireland. Taking the country broadly, there is no doubt that the gaining of our own Government is a matter for pride and exultation—u hioli finds vent in athletic sports, games, dancing, and singing. At the same time' there are strong undercurrents, which would most probably mislead a visitor as to the true trend oi life in the Free Stale. These eddies of feeling all centre round the question of distributing appointments—civil and military; unemployment is acute in Saorstat Kircann—but not to quiu r the same pitch as in England. It is bad enough, however, to make those who have good posts keenly anxious to hold them, and this is the explanation of the silence which the Dublin metropolitan police, as well as the -country police (Civic Guard), have kept with regard to the cut of one-seventh of their pay from the Ist inst. This is a heavy loss to all ranks, and were it not for the groat diiTiculty in getting a post carrying a living wage, there is no doubt that a serious police strike would bo threatened.

This day’s paper contains a list of bOO oflicers who are being demobilised, with, of course, a much larger number of men—thus reducing the Free Stale Army to IS,OOO. It is impossible Tor this small country, with a population of about three and a quarter millions, to support a larger army, but the disbanding of so many men will add considerably to the unemployment, and, of course, to the taxation of the well-to-do. The demobilisation terms given to the men cannot be called extravagant—three months’ pay for officers and one for men—so there are likely to be cases of brigandage throughout the land ; already sonio hank raids have taken place, but its bankers are now on their guard, the robbers secured little money, while in one case, that of tiic bank in Unit inglass, two ex-army captains killed a civic guard who tried to .nre-t them. That tlu» credit of the country stands high has been fully proved by the ease with which a loan of C 10,000,000 was raised internally. As usual, the prophets declare I it could not be raised by the Five Stale Govciniiicut. "Who would lend it to themthey asked, with uplifted eyebrows. As if turned out, l lie money was more than subscribed inside Ibe country some* days short of the allotted time. It is a pity that mo-1 of ibis money will have to he paid out uselessly, so to speak, in coin-pen-alion for the insane destruction of property by the Republic aits. These gentry appear to have thought that the whole sab* destruction of properly would

•-tribe terror in the ordinary citizen, hut, a> a matter of fact, many per. Si.ii.i, who wanted to profit by this weakness, a< lunlly put temptation in U'■ "boys” nay. ami, having got rid oi undesirable property—such as castles u::d bio mam-.mm-, in lonely country ph' where liiey seldom stayed-—art* now ahoui to build nice houses convenient to Dublin, with the eoinpen-a-tion paid for the dcstruetioii of their white elephiints.

There was also wholesale desirm tiin of railway lines, bridges, atid. all sorts of public buildings, suelt as military barracks, jmlice barracks, workhouses, cotii: houses ; private dwelling-house*, 100, snliered to a considerable cut Wor-i cases of all were th.e Four C'ottfls ami the ('usiom-hoitse in Dublin. wherein perished legal and historical manu-r-iipts and documents; these beautiful buildings and their eonti-ats are i: replaceable.

1 1 is very encouraging In note* the f-li:iis.r.■»l rltude of the country toirai'.l'i ! ii'd: Oil nod the Knglisli people since tlic Treaty was signed. The populnr ido.t of John Htil 1 was that- ho needed constant watching, in order to make sure llutt he did not get the belter <:! a poor innocent stranger by some sleight of hand ; hut all sections of Irishmen now recognise tlnit the new conditions agreed unon have hcon observed with absolute honour, ami tin's has without doubt created a most favourable impression throughout the Free State. Attain, many Irish residents in Kngland have, when vi-iting their I'riru !s front time to time, assured them chit tlie feeling in England is no* only n : hostile to Irishmen, hut that

they'have always found • the ' English people most friendly; .and this, too, lias had a by no means trivial influence on public feeling here—for the Irish are very sensitive. There should be little risk in making a bet that, if an English resgiment were to appear in any part of Ireland at the present moment, the Tommies would recetc such an ovation from the entire population as would astonish them. If -n----other groat European war were to break out in the near future—as man.think highly probable—no conscription Act would be needed to bring the lighting Irish to the colours to help to safeguard the Empire and win glory for themselves and. their beloved country.