The sun., 1913-11-16
HOME RULE MENACES
IRISH INDUSTRIES
Will Mean Commercial Disaster,
j. Milne Barbour Tells
an Ulster Meeting.
BUSINESS MEN OPPOSE IT
Pass Resolutions to Withhold
All Taxes and Approving the
Ulster Volunteer Force.
BUSINESS MEN OPPOSE IT
sprc,l' Corr, sDopd. To Tug Sry

BELFAsT, Nov 1.-the biggest Of 4
series of meetings to protest against the
home rule hill was held here yesterday,
when the business iner %. t'lster net IN
Ulster and Assembly halls and adop..l
resolutions against the measure. The
meeting VAS attended 10y Representatives
OF most of the great Industrial houses
of lister aud the speakers dealt with
the probable effect Of home rule on Irish
Industries.
Two resolutions were adopted. The
first. after expressing the conviction %
the meetings that the home rule hill
would bring disaster upon the industries.
the commerce md the financial credit of
Ireland and lead to civil war. declared
that the business men assembled re-
solved TO hold back payment OF all taxes
so long as any attsnp: 20 put Into opera
ton the provisions of the hill is mad.
The eecond resolution expressed "our
cordial app. OF the various measures
taken FOR the defence OF our liberties. IN
GLIDING the organisation of the Ulster
volunteer force"
The second resolution, after 4 speech
by Sir Edward Carson, wac put by j.
Milne Harbour managing director OF the
Linen Thread Company. Limited. whose
interests are as extensive in the United
states AZ in Ireland. lie pointed out that
the present demonstration had nothing
OF a political or religious nature, but
expressed the sentiments OF representative
men from every branch Of trade who could
identity themselves on business grounds
with the opposition that was being Of
fered to the legislation.
We demand that our opposition be
heard by Parliament" he said mot in
proportion to our representation in ParIia-
ment. but rather In proportion TO the
eforts we have put forth TO develop the
prosperity and welfare OF the country"
Prosperity sf Ulster shewu.
Mr.. Barbour held that the people OF
Ulster had ny their enterprise and the
orderly and industrious character of the
workinen shown truer interest In their
country than had the rest OF Ireland In
its ceaseless agitation.
Tn considering the principle Of this
DILL he continued. neither our expert
enc. In the past nor our anticipation for
tne iuture suggests any reason for legts-
latlon OF sYch revolutionary character.
IN the year 1916 the population ~
Belfast numbered 3o,12O. while to-day II
Is close on 100000 and in the last f'fty
years the valuation of property In the city
has grown from $i,+21.7i5 to s6.71s.6sO
During the same period the tonnage OF
vessels cleared from III. port Of Belfast
has grown from a little more than "A
million tons to two and half million
t''S ''lu te customs revenue mas grown
from $lsl5.N15 to s2i.i7S.Ss5."
As al example Of the prosperity of
tlster. Mr. Barbour explained that in
the city Of Belfast the wealth was more
evenly distributed than in any other city
or It's siz" and the ratio OF pauperism---
l"' per l,oOo-was the lowest of any
city In the United Kingdom.
Ulster opposition TO home rule ls so
great. Mr.. Barbour said. that employers
Know that. eyen II they had no opinions
OF their own there existed among their
employees such a hostility to the m.a sure
ana such determination to resist il that
disturbances o! the gravest character
would undoubtedly ensue in the event Of
any attempt being made :o forca tn.
measure upon them. MIR. Barbour added
that with IN" workers he approved the
Ulster volunteer force and considered
that existing conditions required and tus-
titled its formation
The speaker referred 10 remarks by III.
Nationalist leaders and held that they in
dicated that the ultimate aim of som,
of the Nationalist party was complete
independence, 20 which home rule was
merely Il stepping stone.