AUSTRIAN AND IRISH. EVICTIONS.
[To TES EDITOR or TR. " &ROTATOR.")
Sia.,—At a time when sympathy for the sufferings of the Irish peasantry is leading so many men to propose hurriedly most dangerous remedies, and to shut their eyes to most abominable crimes, with the excuse that the people were driven to commit them by the oppressions they suffer from an unjust Government, the question arises if these sufferings and wrongs are really so great as they are made out to be.
As a rule, comparisons are odious ; but for once it might be worth while to cast a side-glance at the state of affairs in some other country ; and as Austria has so frequently been quoted as a shining example of what Home-role can do for a nation, allow me to quote a few figures from the official reports on the state of Vienna and its population :- In Ireland, the total number of householders evicted are said to be between 2,000 and 3,000, of whom probably only 10 per cent. were really driven from their houses.
In Vienna, with 753,000 inhabitants, 62,712 notices of eviction were issued in 1884,—this not for rent or private debts, but for State and municipal taxes unpaid. Ont of these, 14,795 were eventually carried out That is to say, the furniture and other property of 14,795 families were seized by the authorities and sold by public auction.
The average earnings of a workman in Vienna are 10 fl. a week, or 520 fl. a year (C43); out of this he has to pay 63fl. (R5) in taxes. Afamily earning 1,5001 (about £125) a year, has to pay 2391 in taxes,—viz., 321 income-tax ; 57 ti. oetroi ; 120 fl, house- tax. The above does not include the taxation resulting from import taxes, the sugar and stamp tax, or the salt and tobacco monopolies.
In 1881, outdoor relief was given to 80,197 persons ; in 1885, to 107,856. The institution nearest resembling an English workhouse gave night lodgings to 97,000 persons in 1881, and to 113,000 persons in 1885. The police arrested in 1881 65,700 persons, and in 1885, 84,293; out of these, 35,708 were arrested for vagrancy and sleeping in the streets,—this among a popula- tion of 753,000, and in the richest town in Austria. Since 1874, the population has increased 16 per cent., and the con- sumption of the principal articles of food (meat, bread, beer, and wine) has declined.
The condition of the Irish peasantry would be considered an ideal one by a large proportion of the inhabitants of Vienna. The London Socialists might also do worse than study the above figures ; it might give them a dim idea that, as yet, they have many blessings to be thankful for.—I am, Sir, &e., AN OLD AND CONSTANT SUBSCRIBER.
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