I described in Chapter IX. how a number of patriotic Irishmen, working both at industrial and agricultural development, have striven to counteract this fatal tendency, and to persuade their countrymen to rely on themselves alone. But I venture to repeat what I said then, that without the bracing discipline of Home Rule, and, above all, of the financial Home Rule, these efforts are doomed to comparative failure. It is absolutely necessary to produce an equilibrium between revenue and expenditure in Ireland, as in every other country in the world. Whatever the temporary strain upon Ireland, whatever the sacrifices involved, the thing must be done, and done now or never. Great Britain's interest is something, but it is trivial beside that of Ireland. The situation is growing worse, not better, and Irishmen should unite to insist that the whole system should stop. II. IRISH EXPENDITURE. Let us look a little more closely at Irish expenditure, as disclosed in the Treasury returns. For purposes of comparison, I set out first the main heads of Civil Expenditure for England, Scotland, and Ireland in the year 1910-11:[119] Population. England, Scotland, Ireland, 36,075,269. 4,759,521. 4,381,951. L L L Civil Government Charges, 1910-11: (_a_) On Consolidated Fund: (1) Civil List, Salaries, Pensions, and Miscellaneous Charges 340,500 148,000 138,500 (2) Development and Road Improvement Funds (3) Payments to Local Taxation Accounts, etc. 7,199,500 1,204,500 1,477,500 (_b_) Voted 26,121,500 4,180,500 8,026,000 Total Civil Government Charges 33,661,500 5,533,000 9,642,000 Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue 3,157,000 464,000 298,000 Post Office Services 15,798,500 1,930,000 1,404,500 Total Expenditure 52,617,000 7,927,000 11,344,500 L s. d. L s. d. L s. d. Per head of population 1 9 2 1 13 31/2 2 11 9 The totals, if we consider relative populations, appear startling. Look at the third, or Irish, column, and set aside the two last items, "Customs, Excise, and Inland Revenue," and "Post-Office Services," which represent the cost of collecting Irish Revenue and maintaining the Irish postal, telegraph, and telephone services. We may note in passing, however, that the Post-Office receipts in Ireland in 1910-11, according to the Treasury estimate, were less than the outgoings by L249,000 (receipts, L1,155,500; outgoings, L1,404,500). The Civil Government Charges are the most important heads of expense, and these are divided into two main classes: (_a_) charged on Consolidated Fund; (_b_) Voted.