§ MR. J. PINKERTON (Galway)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if his attention has been directed to resolutions, passed by the Galway Board of Guardians and by the Harbour Board, pointing out that owing to the extreme severity of the weather there is a complete paralysis of trade, and, in consequence, 1279 numbers of people are without employment and in want of the bare necessaries of life; and that, as the Board of Guardians are unable to cope with the widespread and far-reaching distress caused by the failure of the potato crop, they urge upon the Government the necessity for starting works of public utility in order to provide employment for these people; and what steps, if any, the Government have taken to meet the urgent requirements of the case.
MR. J. MORLEYI have seen the resolutions to which reference is made. In Galway, as in other towns, the labouring classes have undoubtedly suffered from want of employment caused by the recent severe weather; but the Local Government Board are of opinion that this distress, which is of a temporary character, can be met by the ordinary Poor Laws. Their Inspector has been directed to visit Galway and inquire closely into the condition and resources of the poor in the town. I may add that it is proposed to open works for the relief of small landholders in some of the Western portions of the Galway Union.