CHAPTER XI.

Poor laws

Great deficiency of employment for labourers in Connaught

Statement of the very small proportion employed in the Union of

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Milford, County of Donegal

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Great number of helpless poor, widows, orphans, &c.

194

Can the poor-law be worked throughout Ireland?

195

How is the unemployed population of the West to be supported?

Reference to Statistical Tables of the Annual Value of Property

liable to be rated for Poor-rate in England and Ireland

Great difference between the two countries, as respects their capa-

bility of supporting the poor

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Mode of working the Poor-law Act

Very doubtful whether the unions along the Western coast can

do so

Nevertheless, the greater part of Ireland well able to support its

poor

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Difficulties in collecting the rates.

200

Immediate lessors liable for the poor-rate on holdings valued at

£4 and under .

201

If arrears be re-assessed and stringently enforced, some districts

will be pauperized.

202

Will the poor-law confiscate the estates of embarrassed proprietors?

Irish poor-law nearly similar to that of England in this respect

The law might be altered so as effect a confiscation; but would this

be good policy?

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While assistance should be afforded to some places, payment of

rates should be enforced from all solvent parties

Some electoral divisions even in the West able to support their poor

Other electoral divisions unable to do so

Our feelings instinctively prompt us to relieve the distress around

Information of a local committee essential for good management

of out-door relief.

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Important that the able-bodied should be supported by labour

Resolutions of Limerick Grand Jury

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.

It appears advisable that the districts for taxation should be smaller

Townlands have been suggested, but are unsuitable, being the

212

opposite extreme

212

Reference to a case of peculiar hardship.

213

Poor-law Commissioners have power to vary the size of unions and

Clearances of estates will go on under any system, and can only

Settlement clause in Poor-law Act of last session

219

Question of settlement considered.

220

Power of removal considered-present law often inflicts great

hardships on Irish poor in England

221

Union rating would not enable the property of Ireland to support

If one part of the empire suffer beyond its local means, it is

entitled to assistance from the Treasury

225

In this spirit the government have acted

225

The Eastern counties of Ireland cannot be properly called on to

assist those in the West

Supposed case of Manchester in the event of a failure of the

cotton crop

227

Difficulty of efficient management under present arrangements

Some assistance necessary; continuation of the appointment of

inspecting officers proposed

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231

A poor-law guardian should be disqualified, if his rates remain

unpaid.

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Proposal of assessing the landlord for his portion of the rate con-

sidered

232

Poor-law, unless well administered, may do much harm

233

For efficient management, a middle class required

234

Security of property and freedom in the sale and transfer of land

the best means of raising up a middle class

234

CHAPTER XII.

Recent legislation has given increased facilities for conducting

mercantile affairs.

235

The public are prepared for further progress in the same direction

The principles of free-trade should be extended to land

This will best meet the various difficulties of Ireland

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Some of the difficulties existing in the South and West stated

Same features exist in other parts, though in a lesser degree

Want of security as respects title to, and possession of land, the

main difficulty

239

This is felt by both the proprietor and the tenant

240

A large proportion of the land is entailed

241

The landlord has little interest in improving an entailed estate,

If the heir assist his father in charging the estate for this purpose,

a debt is commenced which frequently results in ruining the

family

244

And acts upon the tenantry in a way which endangers the peace

of the country

245

Permanency of property in land a great social advantage

Legislation cannot contravene the laws of Providence, which

render prosperity dependent on prudence

Effects of entails in interfering with the exercise of parental

There are limits to the power of an owner over his land

Case of Birkenhead cited, to show the beneficial effects of a free

sale of land

249

Poor rates, &c. fall wholly on the landlord, the mortgagee not
being called on to pay any portion

How is employment to be provided for the able-bodied?
Government must supply the capital necessary, or the land must
be sold to those who have the means of employing the people
With freedom of sale and transfer, and security and simplicity of
title, this object will be effected

This would be a great change

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We cannot remain as we are

253

A crisis is at hand

254

The future prospects of the country depend on the mode in which

Bill of last session for the sale of encumbered estates

It is much better that estates should be sold, than administered

under the courts

257

Tenure by lives renewable for ever a serious grievance

259

The remedy is to convert such tenures into perpetuities

259

System of intermediate interests or middlemen, an evil which

needs a remedy

260

Some of the injurious results of this system stated

261

The head landlord can distrain for the rent of the whole from any

Remedy proposed to enable the holder of such a lease to pur-

chase the fee

Present scale of stamp duties discourages the sale of land in small

portions

263

Note respecting the value of the Ordnance Maps for this purpose

265

Such a system of registration would render transfers much less

costly

266

No class of yeomanry in Ireland

267

Importance of increasing the number of those who hold land in

fee

267

Reference to the experience of other countries

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Large entailed estates in Spain

268

Miserable condition of Sardinia

269

Comfortable circumstances of the people of Norway

Careful cultivation of Northern Italy.

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272

The small farms in Belgium compared with those in Ireland

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Belgian superiority results from security

279

Instance of the extraordinary industry of squatters on a mountain

common in Ireland

280

Note on this subject.

282

Opinion of Arthur Young as to the effect of property in land

Prussia has made more progress since 1815 than during the pre-

ceding hundred years

285

Example of Prussia is peculiarly in point

285

Effects of property in land in promoting feelings of loyalty

Independent character of yeomanry or small landed proprietors

As much opposed to freedom as our legislation

Freedom the grand and simple principle advocated by the writer

With freedom of sale, estates of all sizes will exist

All ranks will be found among the landed proprietors

Individual interests will best determine the amount of subdivision

Beneficial effects of intermingling small and large farms

Peasantry of France stated by Inglis to be the happiest in Europe

Honesty of the French

Facility of purchasing land in small portions enhances its price.

291