The 9th and 10th of Victoria, cap. 107, the Act framed by the Government
to provide against the Famine, sure to result in Ireland from the Potato
Blight of 1846, was passed through Parliament without opposition. It was
entitled, An Act to Facilitate the Employment of the Labouring Poor for
a limited period in distressed districts in Ireland; but it became
commonly known as the Labour-rate Act. The principal provisions of that
measure were:
1. On representation being made to the Lord Lieutenant of the existence
of distress in any district, he was empowered to assemble an
extraordinary presentment sessions for that district.
2. Such sessions were authorized to present for public works.
3. A schedule of the works presented for, was to be signed by the
Chairman of the Sessions, and forwarded to the Lord Lieutenant for his
sanction; it should also receive the approval of the Treasury.
4. On its being approved, the Treasury was to make advances for such
works to the Board of Public Works in Ireland, and authorize them to be
executed.
5. County surveyors were to assist in the execution of those public
works.
6. The advances from the Treasury were to be repaid in half-yearly
instalments; such instalments not to be less than four, or more than
twenty; the tax by which they were to be repaid to be levied under grand
jury presentments, according to the Poor Law valuation, and in the
manner of the poor rate; the occupier paying the whole, but deducting
from his landlord one-half the poundage rate of the rent to which he was
liable--in short, as under the Poor Law, the occupier was to pay
one-half, and the landlord the other.
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