KILRUSH UNION.
RETURN to an Order of the Honourable The House of Commons,
dated 28 April 1851 ',—for,
A COPY " of a Report made to the Poor Law Commissioners by Mr.
Lucas, Temporary Inspector in charge of Kilrush Union, in reference to certain Statements regarding the Management of Kitrush Union, contained in a Letter, signed " S.
Godolphin Osborne," which appeared in the " Times "
Newspaper of the 31st day of March 1851."
Poor Law Commfesion Office, J w< STANLEY, Secretary.
COPY of a Report from Mr.
W.
H.
Lucas, Poor Law Inspector, addressed to
the Poor Law Commissioners, dated 14th April 1851.
No.
21,156/51.
Kilrush Union.
1 have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 4th instant, No.
168, m/51, transmitting a copy of the " Times "
newspaper of the 31st ultimo, containing a letter, signed u S.
Godolphin Osborne," calling attention to the state of the paupers in Kilrush Union.
I consider it necessary to place before the Commissioners a short review of the position of the union at the commencement of the pressure on the work¬ houses.
The guardians being aware, from past experience, of the many abuses which invariably follow a system of out-door relief, provided extensive work¬ house accommodation, and in the month of November last they had at their disposal accommodation for 4,654 paupers, with only 3,646 inmates.
The admis¬ sions at that period averaged from 100 to 200 a week, but the discharges almost counterbalanced the admissions; and a hope was entertained that the accommo¬ dation provided was sufficient for the wants of the union.
The pressure for relief however gradually increased to the latter end of the month of December, when an application was made to the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, through the Poor Law Commissioners, for a grant of 1,000/.
from the^ Rate-in-Aid Fund, to provide temporary workhouse accommodation.
This application was granted, as also a sum of 500 I.
for the purchase of the necessary clothing and bedding; and steps were accordingly taken by the guardians to provide the accommodation.
At the commencement of the year the pressure for relief became suddenly very great; the guardians admitted to the workhouse in the weeks ended 4th and 11th January no less than 814 persons; the accommoda¬ tion then became crowded, there being an excess of 343 over the number for whom accommodation had been provided.
I strongly advised the guardians not to admit any more paupers until they had obtained increased accommoda¬ tion, and the relieving officers were called before the Board, and reminded of their powers of granting provisional relief out of the workhouse.
On the 15 th January a letter was received from the Commissioners^ calling the atten¬ tion of the Board to the excess of inmates, and pointing out to the guardians, that unless additional accommodation could be forthwith procured, they would be obliged to resort to their powers under the first section of the Irish Poor Eelief Extension Act On receipt of this communication, the guardians imme-234.
A diately
