CONDITIONS IN IRELAND

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1926, Page 1

CONDITIONS IN IRELAND

A VISITOR’S JAiPPFUSIONS. WELLINGTON. M:u. Air AL .1. Reardon, who has just returned from a trip through Ireland fallowing the conclusion ui his duties in connection with the New Zealand Court at Wembley Exhibition, gave to-day a picture of Ireland which, while hopeful in the main as regards the spirit animating the people, tia.s its black side in the industrial outlook. “ I was asked by a- commission of business men and others set up in Ireland to look into the question <;t workers’ compensation to give evidence as to the working of the eompi usaiion Act in .\cn- Zealand.” ho said. -■ The commission was eager to aVquire all the information it could, and no douht, would find what T told them useful. 1 was congratulated by the commission for the amount, of information I could give of such system in actual operation. The country is in a had way. Farming interests have .suffered by reason of the low prices of beef, and also because they have had several bad seasons. It lines seem to the visitor, though, that the people are settling down to the new state of affairs. Very few seem absolutely hostile to the present constitution. a very small minority indeed, but at the same time many people are not helping the Government very much. I had it from a labouring man that the best assistance the new Government is getting c-omes from those most strongly opposed to Home Rule. That is what may he termed Trinity College influence. It is remarkable that that school of thought, most of them l uioiiists who have bitterly fought, any form, of home rule, are now using their influence to help the Government and make the new can.-.tilu-

uuii a success. " Wages seem to he always lon in Ireland.” commented Air Reardon, "probably lower than in any other place under the British ilag, and the tendency now to bring the standard up makes it diJlieult not to dislocate tilings generally. Under Hie new scheme labour is inked for at Btl an hour. The same labour in England would earn.ls id. and tin- cost, of living is much the same. “ The difficulties of the Labour Party at Home are chiefly internal;” said Air Reardon. “Opposition to the Labour Party relies most entirely upon such words as " Bolshevism.” I think the majority of British people are satistied that during the period that Mr Ramsay .McDonald was Secretary for Foreign Affairs, he did wonderful executive work, which is now being followed un very similar lines by Sir Austen Chamberlain. Papers like the “ Sunday Observer ” and others have recognised the work of Afr Ramsay McDonald during his period of administration. “ The mining situation is one that does not depend at all on wages. It is a question of market. The position is extremely serious, not only for the miners but for the British nation.”