A history of the Irish poor law, in connexion with the condition of the peopleNicholls, George, Sir
History
A history of the Irish poor law, in connexion with the condition of the people
Nicholls, George, Sir
Poor laws -- Ireland -- History
With regard to emigration, as the whole United Kingdom will, it is said,
“be benefited in a very great degree, and particularly in point of
revenue, by the improvement which extensive emigration coming in aid of
a general course of amelioration cannot fail to produce in Ireland,
one-half of the expense should, the commissioners submit, be borne by
the general funds of the empire.” And considering the particular benefit
which Ireland will derive from it, and especially those landlords whose
estates may thus be relieved from a starving population, it is proposed
that in rural districts the other half should be defrayed partly by the
national rate, and partly by the owners of the lands from which the
emigrants remove, or from which they may have been ejected within the
preceding twelve months. It is further proposed that all the necessary
arrangements for carrying on emigration, should be made between the Poor
Law Commissioners and the Colonial Office; “and that all poor persons
whose circumstances require it, shall be furnished with a free passage
and with the means of settling themselves in an approved British
colony;” and likewise—“that the means of emigration shall be provided
for the destitute of every class and description who are fit subjects
for emigration; that depôts shall be established, where all who desire
to emigrate may be received; that those who are fit for emigration be
there selected for the purpose, and that those who are not shall be
provided for under the directions of the Poor Law Commissioners;” who
will moreover be authorized to borrow moneys from the Exchequer Bill
Loan Commissioners for the purposes of emigration, or for defraying the
cost of any buildings they may think necessary, and also “to secure the
repayment thereof by a charge upon the national rate.”
The commissioners likewise propose that the laws with respect to
vagrancy should be altered. “At present,” they say, “persons convicted
of vagrancy may be transported for seven years—our recommendation is
that penitentiaries shall be established to which vagrants when taken up
shall be sent; that they be charged with the vagrancy before the next
quarter sessions, and if convicted shall be removed as free labourers to
such colony, not penal, as shall be appointed for them by the Colonial
Department.” But the wages earned in the colony are to be attached until
the expense of their passage be defrayed; and it is added by way of
summary, that by such provisions as are now suggested, “all poor persons
who cannot find means of support at home, and who are willing to live by
their labour abroad, will be furnished with the means of doing so, and
with intermediate support, if fit to emigrate; and if not, will be
otherwise provided for, while the idle who would rather beg than labour,
will be taken up, and the evil of vagrancy suppressed.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account