The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-02 00:00:00

EVENING,

, 2, 1846.

need between the Board of Works and the government. in
order to obviate the possibility of any delay taking place
lo Providing employment and payment for the labouring
Population.
The Lord Ueutenaat—What can J do On that tortieular
point 7—l hardly know what you mean by "commissary."
Mr. O'Connell replied that he used the word in its meet 1
extensive sense. He meant a person in the confidence of
the government under the Board of Works, Yam would set
as • supervisor to see that the work was prope:dy done. A
parson who understood engineering would bo bust suited to
fill such a situation.
The Lord Lieutenant said he had stopped Mr. O'Connell
at that point, because he wanted distinctly to understand the
proposition. He was most anxious to procure the greatest
number of persons who could be got for the purpose of
superintending the public works. Persons had been pte-
cured from the artillery and engineering departments in
England ; but in most instances it was found that they
knew very little about these descriptions of works. He was
sure that all the gentlemen present were aware of the great
difficulty that existed in commencing such works immediately
in this country.
Mr. O'Connell observed that on the other hand the people
were perishing for want of food, and it was therefore abso-
lutely necessary that employment should at once be afforded
to them. No nobleman who had been entrusted with the
government of this country for the last century and a half
ever had more onerous dutiesor more heavy responsibilities,
imposed on him than his Excellency.
The Lord Lieutenant—l shall only say that the great at
number of persons that can be procured to superintend these
works will be provided—that the works will be commenced
as soon as possible, and that there shall be no delay in the
paym•nt of the labourers.
Mr. O'Connell—There is another point to which the
deputation wish to direct your Excellency's attention. They
conceive it would be desirable that peremptory orders should
be given for the distribution of wages at least once, and if
possible twice, a week.
The Lord Lieinenant—That matter hu already engaged
my attention, and I will endeavour to have the suggestion of
the deputation on that point carried into effect.
Mr. O'Connell said it appeared to the deputation to be
absolutely necessary that local depots should be established
for the purpose of bringing food more immediately within
reach of the people; and they earnestly pressed upon the
government the propriety of purchasing up the grain of the
country from the farmers to furnish those depots. This
necessity was particularly obvious with regard to moun-
tainous districts, and those portions of the country which
were remote from market towns. There was unfortunately
no mercantile speculation in the country to supply those
parts with provisions; and therefore it was that they urged
this consideration upon his Excellency.
The Lord Lieutenant observed that, with regard to the
establishment of local depGts, he was inclined to think that
it could not be acted upon with advantage to the general in-
terests of the country, and that it would be rather a danger-
ous system to commence. He had however submitted the
matter to the cabinet for their consideration. .

Mr. O'Connell said—The next pr position they would sub-
mit to his Excellency was, that the labourers employed on
the public works should be supplied with sufficient wages,
either by a system of task work, or, where that was not prac-
ticable, by an adequate daily rate, the amount to be regu-
lated by the current price of provisions.
The Lord Lieutenant—There seems to he a great deal of
misunderstanding existing in the country on the subject of
task work; but I feel confident that if the principle were
generally understood, it would not only not be objected to,
but be generally approved of. It is not intended by task
work to give small wages to the man who works by task; on
the contrary, my wish is, that the man who has done a good
day's work should receive a proportionate degree of remu-
neration. The question then remains, of what is to ho
given to those who can't dos hard day's work ? But I think
that a plan may be devised which would afford a fair return
to those indit iduals who should be physically incompetent to
undertake the more arduous description of labour. I have
spoken to the officers of the Board of Works on the subject,
and it is now under their consideration. Suppose a man

earns twenty pence or two shillings a day, thej may only
pay him at the end of the week six shillings on amount; but
they intend to pay the balance which remains due when the
works were completed and measured. Ther are very little
short of one million of persons employed by the Board of
Works at present, and it would be quite impossible for them
to adopt any other system but that of task work.
The Rev. Henry Disney begged to suggest that it would
be desirable if a scale were prepared which would show
the labourers what wages they were likely to receive under
the task work system. Such an adoption might have the
effect of dispelling the apprehensions which seemed to exist
with regard to it throughout the country.
Mr. E. B. Roche assured his Excellency that the great
object they had in view was to obtain immediate employ-
ment for the people, many of whom were in a state of actual
starvation.
Mr. O'Connell said the most important object of the depu-
tation was to represent to his Excellency the absolute neer:-
sity which existed of providing immediate employment for
the starving people. If this were not done—if prompt and
efficient measures were not adopted to supply the people with
the means of obtaining food, the peace of the country would
be endangered, and the most lamentable consequences
ensue.
The Lord Lieutenant assured the deputation that the
subjects referred to in the memorial had engrzed his serious
attention, and that the government were most anxious to do
everything in their power to ameliorate the condition of the
people, by furnishing them with employment as the means
of procuring the necessaries of life. Every exertion would
be made to procure a sufficient number of qualified persons
to undertake the superintendence of the public works, and
care would be taken to have these works commenced as soon
as possible. With regard to the regular payment of wages,
th.tt was a subject to which he had devoted considerable
attention, and every possible means would be adopted to
carry out the recommendation of the deputatien on that
point. No exertions would be spared on the part of the
executive to carry into effect those measures which they
deemed necessary for the preservation of the country, im-
mediate employment would be provided for the people wher-
ever it was necessary, and wages be given immediately.—
His Excellency, in conclusion, again assured the deputation
that their recommendations, as far as were practicable, should
be carried into effect, and that, so far as he was personally
concerned, not one moment should be lost in ministering to
the necessities of the people.
The Very Rev. Lord Mountnorris bore testimony to the
awful state of destitution to which the people of his district
were reduced, and expressed his admiration of the patience
and fortitude which they evinced under the privations they
were doomed to suffer.—His Excellency paid the deepest
attention to the observations of the different speakers, and
expressed his personal anxiety for the safety of the people,
wishing them to believe that his best and untiring exertions
should be devoted to that desirable end.—Mr. O'Connell :
Am I to understand from your Excellency that I may inform
the people, that you are determined to have prompt and
active measures taken in every quarter to set the people at
work ? The Lord Lieutenant: Certainly—l am most
anxious that immediate employment should he afforded to
the people, and that their wages should be paid regularly to
them.—The deputation then retired.