COLONEL NOLANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he could now state if works of the class mentioned in the Relief of Distress Act would soon be started to relieve the distress in the Tuam and Glenamaddy Unions?
§ MR. COXI have also to ask the Chief Secretary whether he will state the number of relief works he has approved of in East Clare, and if any of these are now in course of construction?
§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)I beg also to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether any relief works will be opened up in the Inchigiela and Clondrahid district to provide work and food for the labourers; and whether attention will be paid to the appeals of the Rev. Fathers Hurley, P.P., and Aherne, P.P., "that the condition of the labourers in these districts demands instant attention"; also whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Rev. Father Lyons, P.P., of Myross, made before the Skibbereen Board of Guardians, and supported by Dr. Levis, J.P., and the words of Father Lyons—
That the people of Castlehaven and Toe-head are starving, many of them during the past week living on boiled turnips and, in default, garbage shockingly unfit for human use. Let them, in God's name, get outdoor relief as they cannot get work";whether he is aware the Board have adopted a resolution—Again calling on the Government to immediately send relief in food and money, as otherwise we tremble to contemplate the result. Not a single day should be lost";and what steps will be taken to prevent disaster? I have further to ask if the proposed Donoughmore and Blarney Line of Light Railway will, in view of the grave distress owing to the failure of the potato crop in the district, be granted such material support as will help to assist the unemployed and dis- 1294 tressed by promoting a useful public work?
§ On the first of these questions being put,
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid: With the permission of the House I shall now also reply to the questions of other hon. Members on this subject. A full opportunity will be afforded before Easter of discussing the whole relief policy of the Government. In the meanwhile, all representations made, from whatever quarter, will be carefully considered; but I hope hon. Members will not endeavour, by questions across the floor of the House, to put Parliamentary pressure on the Government to start out of public money in their constituencies works for the construction of which their constituents are naturally desirous. It must be recollected that the ordinary means of relief through the operation of the Poor Law are available to all, and that public works are an exceptional means of meeting an exceptional crisis, which should only be sparingly employed, and in cases of undoubted necessity.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not believe that any of the works started by the Government, and the rate of remuneration paid, will divert labourers from other occupations.
COLONEL NOLANHas the right hon. Gentleman received Reports from any responsible officials stating that that will not be the case?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI spend my life in conversation with officials on these points, and, on the whole, considering what is the remuneration offered to not more than one member of a family, I do not think the works will be a serious temptation such as would induce people to leave other work. Further, if I found real evils resulting, it would be in my power to take action at a moment's notice.
COLONEL NOLANI do not see how the evil is to be avoided if the works are not started before the time for seed sowing.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURRelief works cannot be started until they are necessary.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)At what time before Easter will the Vote be taken?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUROf course, the Vote will have to be taken before the close of the financial year. Any date that is convenient to the House will be convenient to me.
§ MR. SEXTONMay I ask the leader of the House whether he will put down Supply for the earliest available day, so that the Vote may be taken?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI am not able to give the absolute assurance desired. It is possible that developments in Ireland may render it desirable that further information should be obtained before the Vote is asked for; but ample opportunity will be afforded to all Members interested to express their opinions on the subject.
§ DR. TANNERMay I ask for an explicit answer to the question whether consideration has been given to earnest representations from clergymen that the condition of labourers in Inchigiela and Clondrahid demands instant attention, and whether relief works will be opened?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAll representations made by responsible persons, such as the clergy are, receive careful attention.
§ DR. TANNERHow soon may I hope to receive a satisfactory reply?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt is difficult to know what reply the hon. Member would consider satisfactory. The House, however, will feel that it is no unreasonable request I have made that pressure should not be put upon me with respect to isolated localities by a succession of detached questions.
§ DR. TANNERI must press for an answer to the question relating to Skibbereen.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURRelief works have been started there for some time.
§ DR. TANNERWill the proposed Donoughmore or Blarney Line of Light Railways, in view of the grave distress owing to the failure of the potato crop in the district, be granted such material support as will help the unemployed and distressed by promoting a useful public work?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe proposed line referred to has, I understand, passed the Grand Jury and the Privy Council with a guarantee under the Tramways 1296 Act of 1883, and the consequent Treasury contribution under that Act. The promoters of the line, upon taking out their Order in Council, can proceed with the works forthwith.
§ In reply to questions by Mr. Cox,
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid: There are no relief works in East Clare. Reports have been received indicating that, largely owing, as I understand it, to the severe weather, employment has been scarce in Ennis. This is much to be deplored; but it is not to meet cases of this kind that so exceptional a course should taken as that of starting relief works out of Imperial funds.