Emigration from Ireland
Mr.FELL asked the chief Secretary for
Ireland if there has been a marked increase
in the emigration from Ireland in the
first four months of this year compared
with the corresponding period in the
preceding three years; and, if so, can
he state if such increase is chiefly to
the United States, or to Canada or where ?
THE CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr.Birrell):
The number of persons who emigrated from
Ireland during the first four months of 1908,
1909, 1910,and 1911 were respectively, 7,619,
10,114, 10,757, and 11,455. The increase is
almost entirely due to increased emigration
to Canada and to the United States, but while
the number of emigrants to the United States
has increased from 5,435 during the first
four months of 1908 to 8,595 in the
corresponding period of this year, or 58 per
cent., the emigration to Canada has increased
in the same period from 866 to 1,921 or 122
per cent.
Mr. WILLIAM REDMOND : May I ask whether there
is a monthly return of these figures issued in
Ireland by the Registrar-General, and, if so,
whether it would be possible to make that return
available generally for Members of the House ?
Mr. BIRRELL : Well, if there is any demand for
it, I will see what can be done.
Mr. GINNELL : Does not the right hon. Gentleman
recognise that one of the causes of emigration
is the want of land for landless people, and will
he endeavour to make the distribution of land what
it ought to be in accordance with the intention
of Parliament ?
Captain CRAIG: Does the right hon. Gentleman
ascribe the emigration to the grave fears of
the people in regard to Home Rule ?
Mr. WILLIAM REDMOND : May I ask whether it is
not the fact that this emigration is caused
by the desire of the people to go to
countries where there is Home Rule ?
Mr. FELL : asked the chief Secretary for
Ireland if he has recieved any reports from
Ireland that the emigrants leaving that country
at the present time are of a more prosperous
class than in former years, and are taking
with them larger sums of money; and if he
can give any reason or explanation of this
or any particulars on the subject ?
Mr. BIRRELL: The offical information available
with regard to emigration from Ireland does
not enable me to answer this question.
Mr. FELL: Can the right hon. Gentleman say
whether the emigrants are of a more prosperous
class than in former years ?
Mr. BIRRELL: I really do not know that there is
a class distinction between emigrants. That is a
matter which would require careful investigation.
At present I have not got the information.
