Galway In Days Gone By

1922

Economic discontent

There are nine hundred men without employment in Galway City – nine hundred men subsisting on doles of from 15s. to £1 a week obtained from the Labour Exchange, the amount they receive weekly depending upon the number of mouths they have to feed.

We are assured by the responsible Labour leaders in the city that this state of things cannot be expected to continue forever. There is smouldering discontent with the conditions that compel unemployment and destitution to continue.

Primarily the political ferment into which the country has been plunged since the British evacuation is held to be responsible; for Labour stands firm in the faith that once stabilised conditions are assured under Irish control, investments encouraged, property under the protection that is guaranteed in every civilised community, there will be bread and work for all.

We have all too little capital employed in this country, but we feel confident that upon the return of normal conditions, men of courage and enterprise to build up the nation will not be lacking.

The conditions outlined above are not peculiar to Galway City. We are told that the plea that comes from certain country districts that men are unable to meet their rates is no mere catchcry. We recently had evidence of the destitution along the Connemara hunger belt.

Unemployment is rife everywhere, although the stern fact has been lost sight of in the political ferment. It is doubtful if any of those who talk politics so glibly realise the menacing groundswell of discontent that is heaving in their very midst. Let them have a care in time.

National security can never come through violent dissension, especially when it is carried out to the extreme lengths that have brought dismay and sorrow to the friends of the nation and joy to its enemies.

For these reasons, we are glad that the people of Ireland have begun to assert their sovereignty in their own household. The lead given by the National Executive of the Irish Labour Party has been quickly followed by the heads of our industries, by the Farmers Associations up and down the country, by the All-Ireland Ratepayers’ Convention which met at the Rotunda, Dublin, on Wednesday.

Mr. P. Belton, who presided, said that no matter what party got on top the first essential for consideration was the protection of life and property. The Convention demanded as it has a perfect right to demand, that in the event of the Peace Conference, which resumed discussion in the Mansion House yesterday, failing to agree, a report of its proceedings should be published, so that the people of Ireland shall know who is responsible if civil war should arise and the last state of the country should become worse than the first.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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