May 30 1925

The Irish Boundary Commission continued its sittings in Derry yesterday.

The following official report was issued:

“At today’s sitting of the Irish Boundary Commission, witnesses were heard on behalf of a group of County Donegal businessmen in support of a claim made by them for inclusion of the Port and City of Londonderry in the Irish Free State, or alternatively for inclusion in the Irish Free State of the Port of Londonderry and that portion of the city which is situate on the west bank of the Foyle.

Evidence was also given on their behalf in opposition to claims for inclusion in Northern Ireland of any portion of County Donegal”.

It is understood that the witnesses included Mr Michael Flood, Donegal; Mr John Whyte, TD; Mr Michael Bonner, County Council; Mr Patrick Gallagher, Dungloe, and Mr Larkin, Town Clerk of Letterkenny.

While unionists sought for the inclusion of Donegal or parts of Donegal with large Protestant numbers in Northern Ireland, nationalists sought for the inclusion of Derry City or parts of the city with large Catholic numbers in the Irish Free State.

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Linen Slump Triggers Job Losses

The number of persons seeking employment through the medium of the Employment Exchange and Branch Employment Offices of the Ministry of Labour saw an increase of 2,896 from the week ended 18th May and the week ended 25th May.

The increase is due to workpeople becoming unemployed in the linen industry.

In a letter to the “Spectator” Mr G Anderson, Newburgh, Fife, says:-“I may mention two important causes of the depression in the linen trade in Ireland, and also in this country, which are not referred to: – (1) The Russian debacle, creating a great scarcity and increased cost of flax, by which yarns are three times as high as in 1899; (2) the imports of Continental linen goods at prices which no manufacturer here can compete with. The result is that union and cotton goods are supplanting linens all over the world, and a large proportion of them are bought under the presumption that they are linen”.

The once vibrant linen industry of Northern Ireland terminally declined once cheaper and newer fabrics became available globally.