4d. for
England, and 19s. 7d. for Scotland.[127] Of all ways of remedying a
backward economic condition, that of excessive pensions is the worst.

The cost of Irish Primary Education--L1,632,000, as I pointed out in
Chapter IX.--is at once too high and too low; too high in the sense that
much of it is wasted owing to the lack of popular control, too low in
the sense that it is a scandal to spend nearly as much on police as on
the education of children, and L800,000 more on Old Age Pensions than on
the education of children. If part or even the whole of the additional
expense eventually necessary is raised by rates, so much the better.
Accurate comparison is difficult with the English and Scottish
expenditure on elementary education, because the greater part of the
cost in those countries is borne by private endowments and local rates,
whereas in Ireland no local rate is raised for elementary education,
there are no endowments, and private subscriptions are very small.[128]
It is certain, however, that far greater sums, in proportion to
population, are spent in England and Scotland than in Ireland. This is
little to be wondered at if we consider the painful history of education
in Ireland; but we cannot recall the past, and, as I urged in Chapter
IX., one of the first duties of a free Ireland will be to improve the
education of the children.

The Irish vote for Universities and Colleges, L166,000, has been swelled
by the recent establishment of the National University. No item in the
whole list represents money better spent.

With regard to other Irish services, I shall make use, with Professor
Oldham's consent, of some interesting tables compiled by him, showing
the principal variations in Irish expenditure since the year
1891-92.[129]

They include certain expenses which I have already alluded to, and
others which I shall have to remark upon further, besides giving a
general view of the growth in the cost of Irish government. Neither of
lists A or B is exhaustive:

A. INCREASES OF EXPENDITURE.

1910-11. 1891-92.
L L
1. Old Age Pensions 2,408,000 --
2. Primary Education 1,632,000 843,755
3. Universities and Colleges 166,000 26,000
4. Payments to Local Taxation Account 1,477,500 399,260

5. Ireland Development Grant 191,500 --