From Sinn Féin, April 18, 1914.
The following memorandum will be submitted to the Convention by Mr. Arthur Griffith as the basis of proposals to Unionist Ulster. Other memorandums will also probably be submitted. As it is desirable that these proposals should be carefully and deliberately considered beforehand that they may be intelligently discussed at the meeting we print them this week:—
REPRESENTATION.
The claim of Unionist Ulster to a right superior to the right of the country of which it is an integral part is logically untenable and not to be discussed.
But the claim of Unionist Ulster to particular consideration in any scheme for the readjustment of the government of the country is sustainable on the ground that the linen industry (which is practically confined to the province of Ulster) is nearly equal in importance to the staple industry of the other provinces.
The representation for Ulster in the Irish Commons proposed under the present Bill is less than on the basis of its electorate Ulster is entitled to receive. It is much less on the basis of rateable value than the representation assigned to Connacht. On the basis of trade it is less than Ulster is entitled to compared with the other provinces.
If population alone be taken as the basis of representation, Ulster has a grievance. She has but one representative to every 4,500 electors, as compared with Connacht, which has one representative to every 4,100. Population, however, is not accepted by the English Government, in regard to England itself, as the sole basis of computation for the representation of English constituencies—where one member is here assigned to 3,000 electors and there assigned to 20,000 electors—the principle accepted by both English Liberals and Tories in 1884 and since adhered to being, that circumstances may justify disregard of the population basis in fixing the representation of particular areas.
To fix the representation of Ulster on a high scale without adjusting the representation to some principle in representation would be fatal to the organic development of an Irish Government. Expediency demands that the representation of Ulster should be high. Prudence dictates that there must be a clear relation between the representation and the comparative importance of Ulster. The mixed basis of (1) population, (2) rateable value and (3) trade, calculated always on the highest scale, is the basis consistent on the one hand with allaying apprehension and on the other with the natural growth of an Irish Government.
In settling the question of Ulster representation, these points are the guides:—
- The Elective principle maintained in all instances.
- The basis of representation extended, but not changed.
The measure before the British Parliament at the present time proposes to constitute the Irish Commons of 164 members of whom Ulster shall elect 59. In the cases of single constituencies returning 3 or more members the election is to be carried out by the single transferable vote (the Proportional Representation scheme). The alterations suggested by the present writer to grant Ulster the highest possible degree of representation compatible with accepted principles of representation are as follows:—
Belfast East (5)—Numbers of representatives to be increased from 5 to 6.
Belfast South (3)—Number of representatives to be increased from 3 to 4.
Belfast West (2)—Number of representatives to be increased from 2 to 3.
Derry City (2)—To be formed into two single-member constituencies.
Cavan (4)—To be one constituency with 5 members.
Donegal (7)—To be two constituencies with 4 and 3 members respectively.
Fermanagh (2)—To be one constituency with 3 members.
Monaghan (2)—To be one constituency with 3 members.
Tyrone (4)—To be one constituency with 5 members.
Derry (4)—To be one constituency with 5 members.
NEW CONSTITUENCIES TO BE CREATED.
University.
Queen’s University, Belfast (1 member)
Boroughs.
Ballymena (pop. 11,500, 1 member)
Lisburn (pop. 12,500, 1 member)
Lurgan (pop. 12,500, 1 member)
Newry (pop. 12,000, 1 member)
Portadown (pop. 12,000, 1 member)
Newtownards (pop. 10,000, 1 member)
These boroughs, after Belfast and Derry, represent the urban life and trade of the North.
The Unionist minority in the other three provinces forms about one-seventh of the whole. On the single ground of numbers it would be entitled, therefore, to fifteen representatives in the Irish Commons. Its scattered nature and the restricted application of the proportional system of election in the Bill would render it impossible if the Bill were enacted as it stands for that representation to be gained. My proposal is that the representation should be thus amended:—
Dublin—College Green (3)—To have 4 members.
Stephen’s Green (2)—To have 3 members.
Harbour (3)—To have 4 members.
Dublin County—North (3)—To have 4 members.
Cork City (4)—To have 5 members.
Wicklow East (1)—To be divided into 2 single-member constituencies.
Sligo North (2)—To have 3 members.
Wexford South (2)—To have 3 members.
NEW CONSTITUENCY.
Borough.
Rathmines (pop. 38,000)—2 members.
Together with Dublin County South (3 members) and Dublin University (2 members) this would ensure a minimum of 11 and a possible 15 members of the minority elected for the constituencies of the South.
The creation of the borough of Rathmines (which in population and valuation equals Derry and Limerick) and of the boroughs in the North suggest the creation or continuation of borough representation in the South. The present Bill instead of providing for more extensive borough representation reduces it. The following southern boroughs it is proposed should be retained or created:
Wexford (pop. 11,500, 1 member)
Dundalk (pop. 13,000, 1 member)
Tralee (pop. 10,300, 1 member)
Kilkenny (pop. 10,500, 1 member)
The total membership of the Irish Commons would thus be increased to 194 of which Ulster would elect 74. The predominately Unionist counties of Antrim, Derry, and Down would have their representation increased from 40 to 51, and the Southern Unionists would secure from 11 to 15 seats. At the same time the borough representation would be increased from 34 to 52.
THE SENATE.
Under the present Bill the Senate of the Irish Parliament is to consist of 40 members elected by the same voters who return the members of the Commons. The power of the Senate to suspend measures when the Senate and the Commons disagree extends only for two sessions. Then the Senate and the Commons voting together decide the fate of the measure.
The Bill prescribes that the election shall be by provinces, and assigns to Ulster 14 members, to Leinster 11, to Munster 9, and to Connacht 6—all elected on the basis of proportional representation. But as the Unionists by no means form one-ninth of the electors of Munster or one-sixth of the electors of Connacht, the proposal of proportional representation for them on those lines is illusory. They could not elect a single member in either of these provinces.
By fixing all Ireland as the unit for the election of the Senate the Unionist minority in Munster, Leinster, and Connacht would secure proportional representation. The unit is not too large in the case of an election occurring once only in five years and involving no more than forty returns.
If the Senate be elected by the same constituency it is not likely to be other than an echo of the dominant party for the time being. The electoral qualification for the Senate, based on the following plan would ensure its comparative independence:—
A—The voter to be a person aged 35 and upwards;
B—To be a householder.
C—To be the head of a family.
In addition to representation, the following safeguards, which conflict with no national principle are proposed:—
THE LINEN TRADE.
No legislation by way of tax or duty in connection with the Linen Trade to become operative without the concurrence of a majority of the representatives elected from Ulster.
THE JOINT EXCHEQUER BOARD.
The Chairman of the Joint Exchequer Board to be chosen by the representatives from Ulster.
CIVIL ADMINISTRATION.
All existent grades of the Civil Service, and all new offices created in the administration by legislative enactment, to be recruited by way of public competitive examination conducted by a permanent Board of Examiners appointed by the Senate.
And all the higher permanent offices in the administration to be filled by officers of the Civil Service who have served for a (determined) number of years; the number of years to be determined according to the responsibility of the office.
THE VOLUNTEERS.
The Ulster Volunteer Force to be maintained under its chosen leaders as portion of an Irish Volunteer Force, and not to be liable to serve, except in case of invasion, outside Ulster.
THE SESSIONS OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENT.
The first session of the Irish Parliament to be held in Dublin and every alternate session in Belfast.
THE PRESENT BILL.
Sections 2, 7, 11, 12, of Clause 2, section 2 of Clause 8, and Clauses 14 to 26, restricting Irish trade and finance and prohibiting Ireland from collecting and receiving its own taxes or otherwise conflicting with these proposals, and the schedule of representation to be amended where necessary.