§ Dr. R. AMBROSE (Mayo, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that great distress prevails in Westport, County Mayo, and that a local relief fund has been opened, and what steps, if any, he has taken to alleviate such distress?
Mr. J. MORLEYI am informed that, in consequence of the severe weather, which has put a stop to employment, labourers in Westport have suffered considerable hardship. A local relief fund has been opened to assist these men, and in consequence of their receiving grants from this source the Guardians have been enabled to strike a number of them off the Poor Law 1256 Relief Lists. With an improvement in the weather, which I hope will soon manifest itself, these labourers will be able to resume their ordinary occupation. I may remind my hon. Friend that a Select Committee is now inquiring into the general question of distress from want of employment as affecting the whole of the United Kingdom, and that it will doubtless become necessary to collect statistics on the subject from Ireland.