http://hdl.handle.net/2262/4769 2013-05-22T03:45:28Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3998 Title: The progress of sanitary science in Belfast Author: O'Neill, Henry Abstract: The rapid increase of Belfast in population, and its rapid rise in commercial importance, chiefly accounts for the fact that the construction of good streets and erection of its principal public buildings dates from early in the last century. Like all other large cities, not only in the United Kingdom, but throughout the world, little, if any, attention whatever was paid to sanitary matters until comparatively recent years, streets were laid out to suit the convenience of the owner of the ground, and lanes and alleys were numerous in the immediate neighbourhood of the widest and best streets of the City. Description: Read Friday, 22nd February, 1901 1906-01-01T00:25:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3997 Title: The financial aspect of parliamentary private bill procedure Author: Stanuell, Charles A. Abstract: The mode of conducting Parliamentary Inquiries into Private Bills relating to this country has been the subject of criticism for many years, and it has been brought before the public on many occasions, while it has frequently been made the subject of papers read before this Society. This renders it unnecessary to go at any great length into an explanation of the existing system, but still I think it is well to refer briefly to the present procedure so that the subsequent criticism may be clear and definite. Description: Read Tuesday 15th January, 1901 1906-01-01T00:25:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3996 Title: Educational value of co-operation among Irish farmers Author: Hannon, P. J. Abstract: The object of this paper is not to dwell upon the advantages which co-operation confers upon the farmer as an institution for ordinary business puposes, but to bring before you its effect upon the "country as a medium of education, especially education of a 'practical or technical 'character, tending to make the worker a more accomplished and intelligent performer"' of the functions he discharges in the industrial life of the country. Description: Read Wednesday, 19th December, 1900 1906-01-01T00:25:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3995 Title: Licensing and publichouse reform in Ireland Author: Lawson, William Abstract: "No apology is, I think, needed for introducing this subject to the consideration of the Society, although I could wish that the task had fallen to one more conversant with it than I am. The evils of intemperance are so great that it is no wonder that efforts have been made from time to time to check it by individuals, by societies established for the purpose, by Bishops and clergy of all denominations, and by legislation, actual or attempted. In the present year attention has been particularly called to the subject by the protest issued by the Irish Roman Catholic Bishops, by pastorals of members of that body, and by legislative measures introduced in Parliament by the Government, and by private members. Description: Read Friday, Feb. 28th, 1902 1906-01-01T00:25:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3994 Title: Technical education for commerce Author: Oldham, C.H. Abstract: I imagine that to many of my audience tonight there must appear to be something incongruous about the title of this paper. Technical Schools are well understood in these countries to mean institutions that educate students for industrial life. There is no very great definiteness attaching to the term Technical Education. There is in particular some haziness as to where "teaching the practice of any trade or industry or employment" begins and "instruction in the principles of science and art applicable to industries" leaves off. But there is a pretty widespread impression that Technical Education means education for industry, for the workshop; and that it does not include education for commerce, for the counting-house. The latter has come to be called "Commercial Education"; and schools for the promotion of Commercial Education, where they exist, are usually called Schools of Commerce rather than Technical Schools. Description: Read Friday, 31st January, 1902 1906-01-01T00:25:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3993 Title: Municipal trading Author: Shaw, James J. Abstract: One of the most strongly-marked characteristics of the older school of British Political Economy was its intense jealousy of State interference with the processes of industry or with the course of trade. From Adam Smith down to Fawcett and Cairnes no principle was more strongly inculcated than this— that for the State to interfere to protect industry or to encourage trade or to regulate the conditions under which either was carried on was sure to end in economic mischief. This principle rested on certain broad grounds of political expediency and economic law which I cannot attempt to do more than indicate here. In the first place, these writers considered Governmental interference in trade as entirely outside the proper sphere of government, and, indeed, wholly inconsistent with one of its most important functions. The great and supreme functions of government, after securing the State from external foes and from internal disorder, were the maintenance of the liberty and property of the individual citizen. But it is impossible for the State to dictate the conditions under which industry or trade shall be carried on without interfering with the liberty of the individual in the most important matter which concerns him, the occupation by which he earns a living for himself and those dependent on him. The State, whose function it is to secure men's liberty, was thus itself guilty of a serious breach of that liberty in regard to one of the most important concerns of life. Description: Read Friday, 29th November, 1901 1906-01-01T00:25:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3991 Title: Salmon fisheries in Ireland and the report of the Irish Inland Fisheries Commission Author: Conner, H. D. Abstract: The object of this paper is to bring before this Society the importance of the salmon fishery to the country districts of Ireland, to give an outline of the conditions essential to insure its prosperity, and to summarize very shortly and necessarily inadequately the highly valuable report recently presented to the Lord Lieutenant by the Commission appointed to inquire into the state of the Inland Fisheries of Ireland, and presided over by Lord Justice Walker. Now, in reference to the importance of the salmon fishery in country districts, it is a trite and hackneyed remark, which probably has been many times repeated in this room, that the fact that Ireland is not, and possibly can never be, a manufacturing country on a large scale, makes it all the more vital that every nerve should be strained to develop any natural advantages that the country possesses, and to encourage wealthy Englishmen to come to this country, and to spend in it their superfluous riches, which they are only" too anxious to do, on the mere condition that they can be assured of a moderate amount of really good sport. Now, I believe that, taking it all round, good salmon fishing on a river in Ireland causes an expenditure of money in the district, which to anyone, except an ardent fisherman, appears quite out of propoition to the actual number of fish brought to bank by the fishing tenant, and further that this expenditure benefits a number of persons, and is distributed in directions that renders it even more valuable than that which takes place in other branches of sport, or in the ordinary tourist traffic. Description: Read Friday, 17th May, 1901 1906-01-01T00:25:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3989 Title: The tourist movement in Ireland Author: Wilson, D. J. Abstract: My paper should, I am aware, be devoted to a statistical and social review. I have discovered, however, that the subject is eminently one which does not lend itself to statistics, and I propose instead to treat it from a historical and an economic point of view—in the first place, endeavouring to justify the title of paper by showing that there is a Tourist Movement in Ireland, and next (assuming that I have succeeded in establishing this fact), dealing with its economic value to the country. In using the term historical I have no intention of diving into remote antiquity. Ireland has apparently always been a very attractive country, and has had a very varied list of visitors; but while some of them were extremely peripatetic, the "Tourist," in the modern sense of the word, is the evolution of comparatively recent times. I do not, therefore, propose to deal with the journeyings of Strongbow or the tours of Oliver Cromwell. Description: Read Friday, 19th April, 1901 1906-01-01T00:25:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3975 Title: Licensing and publichouse reform in Ireland [a continuation] Author: Lawson, William Abstract: A little more than a year ago I read a paper on this subject before this Society (Journal, Vol. XI, p. 106), dealing mainly with the Report of the Royal Commission of 1896. I intend now to deal with the schemes proposed for the reduction of the number of public-houses, and for compensation, and the question of popular control and local management, and to refer to some of the experiments which have been made in England to improve the condition of public-houses. Time did not permit me to deal with these matters in my former paper. Before referring to them, however, I propose to refer to the legislation which has taken place on this subject in England and Ireland in the last session of Parliament. Description: Read Friday, March 27th, 1903. 1906-01-01T00:25:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/2262/3974 Title: The forestry question considered historically Author: Falkiner, C. Litton Abstract: The main object of this paper is not to re-state the case for forestry in Ireland, but to recall public attention to the subject; and in doing so to endeavour to throw light on the solution of a preliminary difficulty which is encountered on the threshold of any attempt to extend our woodlands, viz. :—Where should planting" begin, and what are the districts in which it may be most hopefully undertaken? It appears to me that the past may have some lessons for us on this point, and that something may be done from the point of view of history to supply an answer to this question. The line of my recent reading chancing to have brought vividly before me the extent and value of our former forests, I have asked myself whether light may not be derived from a consideration of the localities in which those forests flourished, of the circumstances which caused their destruction, and of the attempts which have been made in former generations to repair or mitigate the misfortune of their disappearance? It is to these questions, and to these questions only, that I shall endeavour now to give an answer. Description: Read Friday, January 23rd, 1903 1906-01-01T00:25:21Z