This table speaks at once to the eye, and by its ascending and its descending numbers indicates the circumstances of the period to which they severally refer. But in addition to the expenditure in the third column, it must not be overlooked that since the passing of the Consolidated Debts Act[[204]] in 1850, a considerably larger amount of rates has been collected than was required for the immediate relief of the poor. Thus the amount collected in the year ending in September 1853 was 1,000,312l., whereas the expenditure on relief was only 781,523l., the remainder being applied in payment of the consolidated annuities, and in defraying expenses incurred under the Medical Charities Act. At present, it is said, out of 357,858l. the entire amount of the two annuities payable in 1852 and 1853, only 28,768l. remains unpaid; and the advances made on security of the Rate-in-aid have been wholly repaid, with the exception of a trifling sum due on certain newly arranged townlands. But it is expected that in a short time “all the exceptional charges on the poor-rates will cease, and that thenceforward the rates will be exclusively applied to the relief of the poor, and the support of the medical charities.”
Further advance to the impoverished unions.
Notwithstanding the general improvement, and the reduction of expenditure which has been shown to have taken place, assistance was still required by some of the western unions, and the government consented to an advance of 30,000l. being made to eleven of them,[[205]] to pay their debts and relieve them from financial embarrassments; but this was done however, on the express condition that they “should not expect further assistance, and should make rates to the satisfaction of the Poor Law Commissioners, to meet their immediate and future wants.” The condition and the assistance were alike well timed and judicious, and secured the objects for which they were intended.
Average cost of maintenance.
The cost of subsistence in the workhouse, may be considered to afford a fair criterion for judging of what is required for the subsistence of the labouring classes generally, there being in fact little difference between the food usually consumed by the peasantry, and that supplied to the inmates of the work-houses. The average weekly cost per head is ascertained half-yearly, when the union accounts are audited in March and September, and the following table shows the results on these occasions from 1847 downwards[[206]]—
| Half-year ending. | Average weekly cost of provisions and necessaries. | Average weekly cost of clothing. | Total. | |||
| s. | d. | d. | s. | d. | ||
| 1847. | 25th March | 2 | 1 | 3½ | 2 | 4½ |
| 29th September | 2 | 1½ | 3 | 2 | 4½ | |
| 1848. | 25th March | 1 | 7 | 3¼ | 1 | 10¼ |
| 29th September | 1 | 5 | 3¼ | 1 | 8¼ | |
| 1849. | 25th March | 1 | 4½ | 3¼ | 1 | 7½ |
| 29th September | 1 | 2¾ | 3 | 1 | 5¾ | |
| 1851. | 25th March | 1 | 0½ | 2½ | 1 | 3 |
| 29th September | 1 | 0 | 2¼ | 1 | 2½ | |
| 1852. | 25th March | 1 | 0½ | 2 | 1 | 2½ |
| 29th September | 1 | 0½ | 1½ | 1 | 2 | |
| 1853. | 25th March | 1 | 1¾ | 1¾ | 1 | 3½ |
| 29th September | 1 | 2½ | 1½ | 1 | 4 | |
| 1854. | Week ended 22nd April[[207]] | 1 | 9 | |||
Cost of subsistence and rate of wages.
In April 1854, we see there was a large increase in the cost of workhouse maintenance, arising no doubt from the increase which had taken place in the prices of provisions. This increase would bear hard upon the labouring classes, unless there were a somewhat proportionate increase in wages. To obtain information on this point, the Poor Law Commissioners caused inquiry to be made by the inspectors in their several districts; and we find it stated as the combined result of their Reports—“that there is now[[208]] observable a material increase in the money value of agricultural labour, to the extent of about 1s. per week on the average throughout Ireland.” It appears also, that agricultural employment was more continuous than formerly, and that in most parts of the country the wages of artizans had improved in a still greater ratio than those of common labourers. Unless there were some advance in the price of labour, it is probable that the great increase in the price of provisions would cause an increase in the numbers applying for relief, which does not appear to have occurred; and this may be regarded as a further proof, that on the whole the rate of wages had about kept pace with the increased cost of subsistence.
Changes in the poor law executive.
Certain changes took place in the Poor Law executive in 1852, which it is necessary to notice. Mr. Ball resigned the office of Poor Law Commissioner, and was succeeded by Mr. Senior. The temporary inspectors were all discontinued. The number of these officers in 1847, on the passing of the Extension Act, was 48; but they had been subsequently reduced to 11, and of these 4 were now discontinued, and the remaining 7 were placed on the permanent staff, making the number of inspectors 16, each having the charge of a larger or smaller number of unions according to the circumstances of the district.