The Labour-Rate Act (_9th and 10th Vict. cap. 107_) was founded on the assumption that the owners and occupiers of land would themselves make efforts commensurate with the magnitude of the crisis, and that only a manageable number of persons would have to be supported on the public works. But including the families of those so employed, more than 2,000,000 persons were maintained by the relief-works, and there were others behind including the most helpless, for whom no work could be found. [Sidenote: Failure of relief-works.]The extent to which the rural population were thrown upon the relief-works, threatened likewise to interrupt the ordinary tillage of the land, and thus to perpetuate a state of famine. In short, a change of system had become necessary, and at the end of January (1847) it was announced that government intended to put an end to the public works, and to substitute another mode of relief. The pressure nevertheless continued to increase. The 570,000 men employed daily in January, became 708,000 in February, and 734,000 in March, representing with their dependents upwards of 3,000,000 of persons. The expenses were in proportion, and exceeded a million sterling per month.[138] At the end of February however preparation was made for a change of system by passing the Temporary Relief Act (_10th Vict. cap. 7_). In March the numbers employed were reduced by 20 per cent., and successive reductions continued to be made as the change of system was brought into operation. In the first weeks of April, May and June respectively, the numbers employed were 525,000, 419,000, and 101,000; and in the week ending the 26th of June the number was reduced to 28,000. The necessary labour was thus returned to agriculture, and a foundation was laid for the ensuing abundant harvest. “The remaining expenditure was limited to a sum of 200,000_l._ for the month of May, and to 100,000_l._ a month for June, July, and the first 15 days of August, when the Act expired.” ----- [138] In the month of March the expenditure upon relief-works including labour and plant, and the cost of the staff, amounted to 1,050,772_l._ ----- [Sidenote: 26th Feb. 1847. Temporary Relief Act. _10th and 11th Vict. c. 7_.]