IRISH ANNUITIES

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1932, Page 5

IRISH ANNUITIES

v A BIG FIGURE

COMMENT IN COMMONS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) C f LONDON', April 5. In the House of Commons, AL- Elliott, 'in answer to a question, eaid that no direct payments have been made to the Exchequer by the Irish p Eree State Government, but under existing agreements, the Exchequer met the service of, the greater portion • of stock.

This was Irish land attributable to the Free State, involving a charge of £1,000,000 yearly. No revenue was received direct from the Irish Free State, apart from an agreed annuity of £250,00!) in respect to compensation paid by British pensions, and other Irish services paid by Britain, amounting to £1,.500,000 in the last financial year, these were re-embursed by the Free State.

These figures did not include the Free State payments to the National Debt' Commissioners, in respect of "Irish land annuities. These in nowise were Exchequer revenue, and represented amounts due from individual borrowers to meet service loans they had received,

PRAISE FOR COSGRAVE,

BY PARTY EXECUTIVE

LONDON, April G

The Executive of Air Co? grave’s Party met; and decided to organise a campaign throughout the country. The Party passed a- resolution “thanking Air Cosgravo for his success in firmly establishing democratic state, restoring order out of chaos, building up the credit of the country, with the budget balanced and employment increased, as a result of which Ireland was suffering less from depression than any country in the world.” The resolution also recorded “vigorous opposition to any policy which, by depriving the Free State of advantages it now possesses as a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, would not only injure it economically but destroy the hope of national reunion.”

Afr Co?grave was guarded by armed detectives during the meeting.

FREE STATE REPLY SENT. DUBLIN, April 5. The Free State’s reply was despatched to-night. >