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Belfast, 1912 continued
The rapid growth of the population of Belfast in the early twentieth century caused social problems among the working classes. The influx of rural people into the city brought a high demand for housing. Houses built after 1878 had small backyards and piped water which were a considerable improvement on earlier houses which had no back access, piped water or adequate sewage. There were no tenement houses
in Belfast but even though most houses were only occupied by one family, the small houses were often overcrowded with large families. Houses which had been built before 1878 were not improved, and remained occupied by families until 1914.
Mass media communication is a late twentieth century addiction, with most people today familiar with electronic technology which allow instantaneous connection with any continent. In 1912, the newspaper was the only medium which was universal, telecommunications were only beginning to be used. All newspapers in Belfast had reported the launch of the ship in 1911 and the departure from Queenstown on 12 April for New York. News of the ship sinking was reported in the Belfast Newsletter, Belfast Telegraph and Irish News on 16 April 1912. The Titanic story continued for the next two weeks, with newspapers reporting personal accounts from survivors who had witnessed heroism and pathos. The enquiry into the shipping disaster began on 22 April 1912, attended by Bruce Ismay and other survivors. The newspapers reported daily findings. Photographs did not accompany news reports, there are no poignant images of survivors arriving in New York. Readers would not have been familiar with photographic images of world events and would not have expected visuals. Newspaper editorials on the Titanic were emotive and maudlin without being sensationalist.
In April 1912, Belfast and the rest of Ireland was preoccupied with the imminence of Home Rule. Ireland remained under the political jurisdiction of the British parliament. When Home Rule became law, Ireland would have a government in Dublin to look after internal politics. Two previous Home Rule bills had been introduced by Liberal Prime Ministers and defeated in the House of Lords. Constitutional and parliamentary procedures ensured that the third bill would become law. On 11 April 1912, Asquith introduced the Home Rule Bill in Westminster, which was welcomed by nationalists and feared by unionists. The newspapers were partisan, reflecting public opinion and perceptions.
The nationalist Irish News judged the Home Rule Bill to be the best ever and printed the bill in its entirety to allow readers to identify the political changes Ireland would enjoy once the bill became law. The Belfast Newsletter and Belfast Telegraph expressed unionist rejection of the prospect of Home Rule and gladly reported criticism from influential English politicians who were Home Rule opponents. As the summer progressed, nationalist and unionist political aspirations became more strident, with Edward Carson inciting thousands to unite against Home Rule and Redmond assured of the bill's passage. The newspapers maintained their stances and reported either the evils or merits Home Rule would bring.
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