§ Mr. LARDNERasked the Chief Secretary if he was aware that several of the Colonial Governments are expending large sums of money in Ireland in the employment of agents in advertising extensively at railway stations and in the circulation of literature in fairs and markets, holding out inducements of free farms and subsidised passages to intending emigrants, with a view to inducing Irish men and women to emigrate to these Colonies; and, in view of the fact that the population of Ireland has fallen from over 8,000,000 to less than 4,500,000 during the past seventy years, would he cause representations to be made to these Colonial Governments to the effect that it is not in the interests of Ireland that the population of Ireland should be further reduced?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYI am aware of the matters stated by the hon. Member, but, while no doubt it is not in the interests of Ireland that its population should be further reduced, to carry out the suggestion of the hon. Member would deprive the people of Ireland of information freely circulated in other parts of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. LARDNERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that as a result of the circulation of this information last year there 222 were 5,278 more emigrants, 86 per cent, of whom were between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five years?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYI understand that the figures are substantially correct.
§ Mr. WILLIAM MOOREIs it not a fact that the increase of emigration was due to the increased disorder?
§ Mr. JOHN REDMONDIs it not the fact that the increase of emigration was larger from Ulster than from any other part of Ireland?
Captain COOPERAt present 70 per cent, of the emigrants from Ireland go to the United States. Is it not desirable that they should go to our Colonies instead?
§ Mr. LARDNERThere was an increase of over 500 emigrants to Canada last year as a result of the circulation of this information.