The Disasters In Ireland

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5988, 7 February 1891, Page 4

The Disasters In Ireland

„','■ , LeKcoN, Jan. & ! * Te Eari of Zetland, Viceroy of Ireland, and Mr Balfoiir, the Irißh Secretary, have issued a report ou the condition of the poor in tho western part of Ireland, ihe ?eport says :-» We poverty which is ch?onio in some districts, will, if tho W- arc «ot aided, reach a state of acute" distress during the winter and Ms£k There are neither resident 'genE a substantial middle class to give Soyment, nor are there charitab c oSSions to aid those who are unable ?o aid themselves. Out-door relief, except in cases of emergency, cannot be tolly' administered to persona holding ofet I quarter of an acre of land Al- : though none acquainted with the history Sthe Irish poor law would regard relaxinztnk clause as other than a public Slaniity its maintenance undoubtedly Sthe capacity to deal with periods of Stlonai distress. The position thus *' SeSTaves parfc of the socia organiam, S at all times, stricken with disease £om which without extraneous help it has no poVer to rally." In regard to the Slure of the potato crop the report says : **The small occupiers in the west seem at first sight all to live much in the same m They are lodged in small cabms, SSvate the same kind of soil ho dings and are clothed with the same kind of d?ess lV would be natural to conclude gin all places where the failure of the Other "Cents in t^g .""Ig^S^ wile works. Severalthousandsof pounds Snoufined, first, to the families who are in serious want, and who, having no ableboS person among them, cannot derive benefit from public relief works; second, toTrovSe meals in schools for children SteXg them; and third, to supply Sing for children unable to procure it elsewhere." _