PUBLIC WORKS IN IRELAND.

Dunstan Times, Issue 925, 9 January 1880, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS IN IRELAND.

(Graphic.) The Roman Catholic prelates who waited the other hay on the Unite of Marlborough suggested that the Irish Government should organise a vast system of public works in order to provide employment for needy workmen Of course, if it could bn nroved that certain public works would add greatß to the general convenience, that they would bring in a fair return for the money expended on them, and that they could not be undertaken by private enterprise, a ease Would be made out at least for the consideration of such a suggestion, but it is not pretended that any of these things have been proved. The proposed public woiks, the Viceroy was told, ought to be begun whether they are likely to be remunerative or not. 'ihe scheme would be attended by great danger, since the Irish are already too loud of looking to the oiate for aid, and were a precedent of this sort set they would cons' ler it. a grievance if public works were nat always going on. That is, the country would be heavily taxed to save men the trouble et looking out, either in Ireland or elsewhere, for labour suited for their talents. Ad that is necessary to be done in tlic s| 'cciill emergency now anticipated can be elied-ed without Government interference, an I it is important that nieasuies should at once be taken. The agrarian meeting indicate that a large section of the peasantry are dominated by wild ideas and hopes, and in their present temper they might easily be induced to pass from violent words to violent actions.