every other country in the world. Whatever
the temporary strain upon Ireland, whatever the sacrifices involved, the
thing must be done, and done now or never. Great Britain's interest is
something, but it is trivial beside that of Ireland. The situation is
growing worse, not better, and Irishmen should unite to insist that the
whole system should stop.

II.

IRISH EXPENDITURE.

Let us look a little more closely at Irish expenditure, as disclosed in
the Treasury returns.

For purposes of comparison, I set out first the main heads of Civil
Expenditure for England, Scotland, and Ireland in the year 1910-11:[119]

Population. England, Scotland, Ireland,
36,075,269. 4,759,521. 4,381,951.

L L L
Civil Government Charges, 1910-11:
(_a_) On Consolidated Fund:
(1) Civil List, Salaries, Pensions,
and Miscellaneous Charges 340,500 148,000 138,500
(2) Development and Road
Improvement Funds
(3) Payments to Local Taxation
Accounts, etc. 7,199,500 1,204,500 1,477,500
(_b_) Voted 26,121,500 4,180,500 8,026,000

Total Civil Government Charges 33,661,500 5,533,000 9,642,000

Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue 3,157,000 464,000 298,000
Post Office Services 15,798,500 1,930,000 1,404,500

Total Expenditure 52,617,000 7,927,000 11,344,500

L s. d. L s. d. L s. d.
Per head of population 1 9 2 1 13 31/2 2 11 9

The totals, if we consider relative populations, appear startling.

Look at the third, or Irish, column, and set aside the two last items,
"Customs, Excise, and Inland Revenue," and "Post-Office Services," which
represent the cost of collecting Irish Revenue and maintaining the Irish
postal, telegraph, and telephone services. We may note in passing,
however, that the Post-Office receipts in Ireland in 1910-11, according
to the Treasury estimate, were less than the outgoings by L249,000
(receipts, L1,155,500; outgoings, L1,404,500).

The Civil Government Charges are the most important heads of expense,
and these are divided into two main classes: (_a_) charged on
Consolidated Fund; (_b_) Voted.

Class (_a_) consists of (1) Salaries, Pensions, etc.; (2) Development
and Road Improvement F