THE STATE OF IRELAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2232, 13 May 1880, Page 2

THE STATE OF IRELAND.

The Liverpol “ Mercury ” of March 13 says that the reports of the Liverpool delegates who visited Ireland recently for the purpose of observing the extent of tbo distress prcaviling among tho peasantry in the northwestern, western, and south-western districts of the country have been submitted; They enter very fully into details, summing up the results of the investigation as follows; — Tho broad conclusion at which we have arrived is to the effect that even in the districts most affected nothing Hire actual starvation has in any case arisen as yet, nor, it is hoped, is likely to arise. “Thank God, we are not yet so bad as is reported,” was said to us. by the clergyman of one of the distressed: districts; and to compare the stato of tilings now with that of the famine years of 1846, 1847, and 1848, would be altogether out of place. But that there does not exist severe and exceptional privation, owing in tho main to the absence of employment, a succession of bad seasons, and the almost total failure, iu some instances, of tbo potato crop of the past season, we have no hesitation in affirming. It is however, a striking fact that in no cases are the workhouses fully occupied. With regard to tho best modes of relieving the distress which undoubtedly exists, especially among tho smaller tenant farmers, though without impelling them to avail themselves of the workhouse, wo have carefully sought suggestions from all

sources. The desire for work, rather than for alms, is universally expressed, and has our fullest sympathy. It is unanimously agreed .that gifts of money, or even of money’s worth, to the ablebodied is attended with the most mischievous results ; and, even where offers of relief in kind arc accepted, there is reason to fear that the result may not in all cases be satisfactory. A Roman Catholic parish priest in the west of Kerry, for instance, writes as follows to Ids committee“ For the information of your committc, I send you herewith xny upponntfl with the meal shops for the last four or five clays. As soon as it became known that I had charity to give out, there was a rush from one end to the other of my district. The giving of charity in this way is the greatest curse that could fall upon a people; it demoralises and damns them ; they become liars and everything else that is bad. lam sick of the business. Had they employment, I would make them work or let them starve.” Happily, throughout both of these counties a large amount of work has already been offered through many of the large landowners ; others are now about to avail themse’ /os of the exceptionally favorable terms offered by the Government through the Board of Public Works. In

the meantime it may reasonably bo hoped that the Dublin funds, with the help of local contributions, will suffice to meet cases of exceptional distress. There are, however, several ways in which we conceive that even larger sums than have as yet been contributed might be employed to the maximum of advantage, and the minimum of injury. These arc as follows :—(1.) _ln the purchase of seed potatoes of improved quality. Opinion is absolutely unanimous upon the importance of this. In most cases the potato has degenerated and needs to bo changed, otherwise a repetition of the present distress in successive years is inevitable (2. Clothing and food for children attending schools. (3.) Fishing piers of rough construction could be erected in certain places along the coast with much advantage. Many hands will bo employed in their construction, and when built they would be of permanent benefit to a large number of persons. These three objects could, in our opinion, be aided with advantage to any extent that your funds permitted. In concluding our report for that portion

of the country with which wo arc concerned, we are far from saying that cases of extreme distress, or even of absolute starvation may not arise, but wo have reason to believe that a resolute determination exists to cope with these exceptional cases. At present food in Ireland is cheap and abundant, as compared with former seasons'of distress, and attention has been fully roused the emergency that undoubtedly has arisen. Fuel, moreover, appears to be plentiful and good. We cannot but add that in the cases of the smallest tenancies it is hard to sec how a family can be supported from the produce of the land, even if no rent at all were payable, and that for such cases the only remedy is emigration—not a popular remedy at the present time, but ncvortheloss the only sound and true one.