Show t H POTATO S CROP FAILED Great Distress in Connaught and Other Poor Districts 5 AID URGENTLY DEMANDED S 4 MEETING OP OF THE PARLIA N TARY TAI PARTY S Du Un Doc t meeting of the Irish parliamentary party to discuss the distress tn the west of Ireland and consider means to force Coree the govern government meat ment to provide for the no ce and put the land act In oper operation in Connaught and other poor die was held here today under the 1 presidency r of oC John Redmond Areso A reso was passed condemning the gov government ov for the existing distress In Ireland demanding that immediate steps be taken to relieve it and also demanding that powers be given for forthe forthe the dIstribution of land in the poor dis districts The loca board however to some degree forestalled the meeting by taking which it Is considered will be effective In relieving the tenants who are affected by the failure of the potato crop Resolutions Adopted The meeting was held In house houBe and there were present John Dillon T C Harrington Joseph Dov Un Sir H G Esmonde and a majority of the nationalist members of the house of commons Resolutions were unanimously adopted the which says Owing to a failure or of the po potato tato crop such as hair i reg regular regular ular intervals In the last sixty years aggravated this season by a terrible shortage In the earnings of migratory harvesters and a sharp fan fall In agricultural tural products the population of con considerable considerable portions of the west of Ire Ireland Ireland land has been plunged into acute dis distress distress tress which in many districts will re result suIt sult in famine unless the government takes prompt measures The second resolution holds the gov government responsible because It has persistently refused to take the necessary steps to relieve chronic des destitution destitution and earnestly cans upon the government even at the eleventh hour to apply the provisions of the land act in the west of Ireland as far as pos poe possible sible without legislation and at the earliest moment introduce in parlia parliament ment an amending bill making the land act the western problem The third resolution maintains that the proper temporary remedy is not but the starting of f works which will be or of permanent utility in inthe inthe the distressed dIstrIcts enabling the people to earn their livelihood by hon honest honest est labor The resolutions suggest measure to deal with the present emergency such as facilitating land transfers and giving the congested die dis districts board tree hand and authority to Include purchases and Initiate relief works Special Aid Asked The fourth resolution demands that thata a specIal distress grant be immediately placed Lt at the disposal of the congested districts board for carrying out relief or establishing productive works of a permanently beneficial character The fifth resolution demands that harbor and pier works under the ma marine marine rine works act on the western coast should be Immediately commenced The sixth res resolution says that the provision of fresh potato seed is of urgent necessity but the feel bound to point out that this meas measure ure will be Ineffective for the relief of distress before August next and that the method of distribution the local government board proposes and the de demand demand mand for fun full repayment of the cost of seed by the affected areas Is most un unsatisfactory satisfactory and unjust Provision Should Be ade The resolution declares that ex cx peri penance has proved that the provision of potato seed for a district liable to periodic failure of the potato crop ought not to be left till a catastrophe has occurred and that when so left leCt the he provision of fresh seed In the hurry and under the pressure of calamity has al always ways was resulted in great extravagance and frequently In the provision of ex cx extremely pad ad seed at excessive cost The agricultural department It is urged should provide for the steady and con constant stant introduction of fresh varieties of seed potatoes into districts so disastrously disastrously dependent upon the potato crop The eighth resolution is as follows We uVe feel bound to condemn in the strongest terms the conduct or of Irish landlords In aggravating the distress by pressing for full rents and arrears in this disastrous year and Issuing ejectment processes by wholesale We Ve believe that these proceedings are a direct conspiracy to use distress for the purpose of coercing the people to agree to the purchase of their holdings at ruinous prices |