220.]

[Footnote 72: In this connection attention may be called to the
remarkable increase of wealth in Ireland in the past twenty years. The
deposits in the Joint Stock Banks have increased from L33,700,000 in
1891 to L56,011,000 in 1911, the balances in the Post Office Savings
Banks in Ireland from L3,878,000 in 1891 to L12,253,000 in 1911, and the
number of accounts from 261,352 in 1891 to 662,589 at the end of 1910.
Irish investments in Government Funds, India Stocks, and Guaranteed Land
Stock have increased from L26,609,000 in 1891 to L41,363,000 in 1911.
But more noteworthy still, perhaps, is the increase in Irish trade.
Figures are only available since 1904, but in that period Irish imports
have increased from L54,078,399 to L65,044,477--an increase of
L10,966,078 in seven years. Irish exports have increased in the same
period from L49,712,400 to L65,844,255, or an increase of L16,131,155.
Or, if we take the aggregate trade, there has been an increase from
L103,790,799 in 1904 to L130,888,732 in 1910, an increase of
L27,097,933. In other words, the aggregate import and export trade in
Ireland in the year 1910 amounted to nearly L28 sterling per head of
population, while the corresponding figure for Great Britain is just
over L20. These figures are, I submit, eloquent testimony that the
general policy of the Imperial Parliament in relation to Ireland during
recent years has been wisely conceived, and that the successful solution
of the "Irish Problem" is to be found in the steady pursuit of methods
which have already achieved such striking results.]

[Footnote 73: It appears that Mr. Dillon was under a misapprehension on
this point. He thought he had obtained an amendment to the Bill which
prevented the I.A.O.S. from getting a subsidy. This, however, was an
entire mistake. See App. B. to the Report of the Committee on the Dept.
of Agriculture. Cd. 3573 of 1907.]

[Footnote 74: The _voluntary_ contributions to the I.A.O.S. for the work
of organisation amounted to no less than L100,000.]

[Footnote 75: See his evidence before the House of Lords Committee on
the Thrift and Credit Bank Bill (Paper 96 of 1910).]

XIV

THE COMPLETION OF LAND PURCHASE

BY THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE WYNDHAM, M.P.

The case for resisting all attempts at impairing the Union between Great
Britain and Ireland can be made unimpeachable without reference to the
Irish Land Question. It would be our duty to defend the Union as a
bul