DOMINION RULE IN IRELAND

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1929, Page 7

DOMINION RULE IN IRELAND

OBSTACLES TO UNITV

ALI REST OF MIL DE VALERA

Writing on February IT. the London correspondent, uf the Melbourne Argils slates that Mr do Valera was serving a month’s imprisonment in Beltast Gaol, lie was u.it compelled to lake a hath on entering upon his term of imprisonment, and lie was allowed to wear his mvii clothes, lie was permitted to buy food from outside, and to read as many newspapers as liis friends cared to slippy. So the- actual punishment was not severe.

Five years ago the Ulster authorities placed a Inin upon Mr do Valera, who refused to take an oath of allegiance. Since then Mr do Valera has taken his seat in the Irish Free State LhuTianicnt. and he is now leader of the Opposition. His arrest and imprisonment must emnitter relations between Northern and Southern Ireland. This is a pity, as me Free State has endeavoured to oring about a reapproaeliinont. But for the Sinn Fein hotheads it might have succeeded. The compulsory use ol Irish in Free State schools and law courts is, perhaps, the most serious ibstacie to u settlement, though the new Irish coinage, the Free State Flag, and such legislation as the Free State divorce law, have also raised obstacles to union between north and south. It was the language issue which was the chief factor ill procuring for Mr de Valera his month’s imprisonment. He was travelling from Dublin to Belfast to open a bazaar for raising funds for the study of Gaelic, when the Royal Irish Constabulary heard of his movements and stopped his motor car at Newry. A little tact wood have resulted in a nominal punishment, hut Mr de Valera chose to address the magistrates in Ersej and lie continued to do so in spite of the protests. As the court did not understand a word of the languange it was plain that Mr de Valera was eontemptuus, and the magistrates sent him to prison. The Free State recently celebrated its seventh anniversary. The new Dominion is steadily progressing. There are occasional outbursts of lawlessness, but order is generally established and the parliamentary system is also in working order. The Ministerial forces, numbering G 1 deputies in the Chamber of Deputies, face Fianna Fail, with 5G supporters. The financial situation lias been stabilised. The trade returns in 1928 showed an increase ol £BOO,OOO over 1927, the exports increasing by 2 per cent. The fall in imports reduced the balance against the dominion by nearly £2,500,00, or 15 per cent. The chief decrease was in wheat and Hour. Wearing apparel and hoots and shoes, which are subject to an import duty of 15 per cent., increased both in value and volume, suggesting that recent tariff changes have not had the effect which the Government designed. The chief decrease in exports was in butter, tiie sale of ale and beer also declined by 10 per cent. The unfortunate effect of the Customs barrier between the Free State, Northern Ireland, and Britain is the nuisance to travellers and those who have a double domicile. Already, farsighted people in the Free State are asking whether it may not lie wise to explore the possibilities of a “Zollverein” within the United Kingdom. The Free State lias not a prod using area large enough to justify an extensive protective tariff. Fortunately, the Irish national debt is small. Some £17,(XX),000 lias been borrowed since the Free State was established to meet such expenses as damage to property during the civil war and the financial projects, hut the Irish debt amounts anlv to. £6 a head.

All parties in the Free State realise that sound finance offers the only chance of success lor the new dominion Mr de Valera and Mr Lomass, of Fianna Fail, recently served on an important Economic Committee, together with three mem hers of Air Cosgrave’s Ministry—the Ministers for Finance, Industries, and Agriculture. The committee received assistance from departmental experts, and it was obviously devised to acquaint Air de Valera and his party with the financial position of the Free State. As Leader of the Opposition, Air de Valera has made some wild promises, among them “work for all,” the advocacy of an out-and-out protective policy, and a threat to refuse to pay to Britain the £.T(V'O.OnO a year collected under the TrHi Treaty for the former Trish landlords. Service upon the Economic Committee doubtless taught Air de Valera. something, hut in a speech last week Air de Valera expounded the economic poliev of Fianna Fail, and he was very insistent upon the restriction of imports. He ureed that the Free State should seek to produce for her home market and to reduce imports both of agricultural and industrial products. By a combination of tariffs, r<>strioion of imports, and hv guaranteeing a price for wheat. Air de Valera proposed a price lor the whole oi the home grain market, tor home-grown grain. Tie added that the greater part of Ireland’s £28,000.000 worth of industrial imports should ultimately he replaced hv home manufactures. Mr de Valera was released from prison on Ala roll 7th. before hi« term ha' 1 iw-d and placed on a train hound for Dublin.