GLOOMY PICTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1932, Page 5

GLOOMY PICTURE

t, IRISH CONDITIONS CREEPING ECONOMIC PARAYLSIS. (United Press Association—By Electric Teiegrapn—Copyright.) LONDON, August 26. Conditions in the Irish Free State to-day are de'Hßflhed by a special correspondent 'of' the “Morning Post,” himself an Irishman, who says: “Nature has given the Free State bountiful harvest, but at the roots there is a canker of creeping economic paralysis. There is no demand for the abundant Jiay and pasture, while horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, butter and eggs are unsaleable, owing, mainly, to the British trfriff, which falls entirely on the producer. Land has depreciated in value, farms being practically unsaleable, and m large proportion of farmers are faced with bankruptcy. Shopkeepers are refusing them further credit. The country is faced with ruin unless the tariff war is ended. A settlement is demanded by all sections with interests of the country at heart, but many think that President de Valera does not want peace, but that he desires to continue the struggle as part of the avowed campaign for an Irish republic. Fanners who believed he,had intended to abolish the land annuities now find themselves compelled to; pay him instead of the British Government. Moreover, he has fpiled to find any alternative to the British market, which his policy is closing. Civil servants’ and teachers’ salaries are endangered, while the banking business classes, dependent on farmers are paralysed by their distress. Many people sum up .the situation by saying: ‘Money is rapidly leaving the country, but arms are rapidly coming in.’ ” The correspondent expresses it, as his opinion, however, that any attempt to overthrow the constitution would be foredoomed to failure.