4. Ireland’s Budget.—­Note the important point that under both Bills three-quarters of Irish revenue was derived from Customs and Excise, over which, in 1886, Ireland could exercise no control; in 1903 only the control given by the presence of eighty members in the House of Commons.  In both cases Ireland was to be wholly responsible for her own civil expenditure (except for the existing Police).  Under both Bills Ireland was intended to start with a surplus of about half a million, which may be regarded roughly as the equivalent, in both cases, of the Imperial share of the cost of the Irish Police.  But note that, in 1886, Ireland being pledged to pay a fixed million of the cost of Police, would obtain no relief until the cost was reduced below a million; while in 1893, paying two-thirds of the annually ascertained cost, she would obtain relief from any annual reduction.  The Police referred to was, of course, the then existing Police, imperially organized and controlled.  The new civil Police eventually set up in substitution would be financed and controlled by the Irish Government.  The charges, therefore, on the British taxpayer would, it was expected, be a rapidly diminishing one.

The loss on Irish posts in 1893, debited against Ireland, was estimated at L52,000.

5. Special War Taxes.—­Ireland’s contribution optional in 1886; in 1893, compulsory (at any rate, for six years, which would have included the beginning of the South African War).

INDEX

Abercromby, Sir R., 57, 129
Absentee taxes, in Ireland, 23-30;
  in Australasia, 116
Absenteeism,
  in Ireland, 12, 51;
  in Prince Edward Island, 75-76;
  in Upper Canada, 80;
  in Lower Canada, 85;
  in Australia, 110
Acadia.  See Maritime Provinces
Act of Union, 1800, 60-64, 232-233
Administrators, in South Africa, 197
Agricultural Co-operation.  See Irish Agricultural Organization Society,
  also 168, 177
Agricultural Grant, Ireland, 267
Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, 267
Agricultural Statistics, Ireland, 150, 306-308
Amendment of Constitution,
  Ireland, 225-227, 338;
  Colonies, 225-226, 338
American Colonies,
  colonization of, 8-9;
  land tenure in (see Land Tenure);
  mercantile system, 17-18, 30;
  government of, 22-23, 33;
  Revolution in, 30-35, 72, 74. 
  See also United States
Anglo-Normans, in Ireland, 6-7
Annuities, tenant’s.  See Land Purchase
Armagh, Peep o’ Day Boys in, 55
Army Act, 1881, 220 (footnote)
Army and Navy, 218-219, 329
Arnold, Benedict, 40
Ashbourne Act, 1885, 309. 
  See also Land Acts
Australian Colonies Act, 1850, 107, 225
Australian Colonies Customs Duties Act, 1873, 220, footnote
Australian Colonies, history of,
  See Chapter VI., and under names of the various States;
  federation of, as Commonwealth of Australia, 119, 196, 198;
  finance in, 227-228, 245-246, 288, 295-298. 
  See also Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, 1900,
  Constitutions, Federal Systems, Customs and Excise, Subsidies