20 THE IRISH AGRARIAN PROBLEM. 



assessments for income tax(" net assessments ") 

 amounted to : — 



The income tax is a somewhat deceptive 

 standard, as it only falls upon incomes of more 

 than ^160, and the majority of incomes in Ireland 

 are, undoubtedly, below this figure. But other 

 statistics, such as the increase in cattle, lodg- 

 ments in banks and savings banks, and perhaps 

 railway traffic, show a certain progress. The 

 lodgments in savings banks amounted to : — 



1870 ... ... ... ;;^2, 700,000 



1880 ... ... ... 3,700,000 



1890 ... ... ... 5,700,000 



1894 ... ... ... 6,970,000' 



From this we can scarcely derive any far- 

 reaching conclusions, except that the poverty of 

 Ireland is somewhat less to-day than it was a 

 few decades ago. A certain progressive activity 

 is showing itself in certain quarters. For 



^ Financial Relations Report, p. 58. [The subsequent 

 returns, however, show a marked decrease. Transl.'\ 



- Financial Relations Report, p. 207. [In 1905 the returns 

 show a balance of ;^i 2,496,000 in Post Office Savings Banks 

 and Trustees Savings Banks. Transl.~\ 



