IRISH AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1925, Page 2

IRISH AFFAIRS

iUBTHALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION FREE STATE PAYING DEBTS. LONDON, Jan. 11. Ernest Blythe, (Free State Finance Minister), at a dinner in Dublin last night, replying to Mr Dillon’s remarks pleaded the Government’s youth. He said the Government was paying all its debts and in no way holding back money. Blythe denied that the Free State would have to pay five millions for assuming its share of the British' National debt. His view of the Treaty iii.. that Free States’ ilaincj l’or overtaxation would at best equal any sustainable claim by Britain for a share, of the present British debt, and taxation charge. He declared the paying of live millions annually at the pre--cnL time would be a disastrous and impossible burden. This showed a very serious overtaxation. IRISH FINANCE. LONDON, Jan. 11. An alarming view of Irish Finances was given by John Dillon in a speech at Dublin. Ho said lie had been warning business -men and bankers for the past two years that they were living in a fool’s paradise. Ho estimated Ireland’s debt to England, under the treaty was five millions sterling annually, yet apart from these debts Ireland was bankrupt. The greatest extravagance was the Free State standing army, the existence of which ill a small country was nothing, hut a crime and an act of insanity. Ten millions had been spent on the army a year, and four millions bad been budgeted for this year, when people were starving. Dillon said he did not. believe any man was able to bring tlie Irish people within a reasonable distance of union.