Some features in recent Irish finance

Abstract

I propose to discuss this evening some aspects of recent Irish Finance which seem to me to be of great practical importance, and to require earnest consideration on the part, not only of those who interest themselves in economic problems or take part in the administration of Ireland, but also of every person, who as public man or private citizen, dwells in or has to do with this country. I do not intend to discuss whether Ireland is now entitled, having regard to her relative resources, to be taxed on a lower scale than Great Britain; or to consider whether the ability of Ireland, as compared with Great Britain to bear the existing pressure of Imperial Taxation, is in any way modified since the Financial Relations Report. I propose rather to consider tonight, some features of the latter-day methods of Imperial Finance, and to suggest the desirability from the Irish point of view of testing their soundness as applied in practice to the Three Kingdoms.