Very general discontent was manifested at the rule
by which the rate of wages on the public works was to be twopence a day
under the average wages of the district in which the works were being
carried on. Wages ruled so excessively low at the time, it was felt
that, with rapidly advancing markets, the labourer on the works could
not get food sufficient for his family. The object of this rule,
however, was obvious and well meant enough; it was framed to induce
agricultural labourers to remain at their usual employments, in order
that the crops might be sown. Had the Government been well informed of
the relations subsisting between farmer and labourer in Ireland, they
would have known that this arrangement could not have the desired
effect, _money-wages regularly paid_ being almost a thing unknown to our
agricultural population at the time; whilst the Famine made money-wages,
regularly paid, the first essential of existence.[146]
When the Government began to insist on task, or piecework, instead of
day labour, the greatest amount of dissatisfaction that occurred during
the entire Famine manifested itself. The engineers of the Board of Works
reported over and over again, that an industrious man, willing to
labour, could earn from fifteen to eighteen pence a-day under this
arrangement, yet the people rose in combination--almost in
rebellion--against it, whilst daily wages ranged from eight to tenpence
only.
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