From the general outcry at the stoppage of
the works, it would appear that this memorandum was very little, if at
all, acted upon.
The second report of the Relief Commissioners, embracing a most trying
period of over two months, is very curt and unsatisfactory. The
dismissal, within six weeks, of nearly three quarters of a million of
workmen, representing more than three millions of people, could scarcely
be effected without the infliction of considerable suffering. The
Government were right in compelling labour to apply itself to the
production of food by the cultivation of the land, and they began this
movement in the Spring, the proper time for it, but they began too late.
The 20th of March was far too late for the fast dismissal of twenty per
cent., for much of the Spring work ought to have been done then. They
should have begun a month earlier at least, which arrangement would have
had the further advantage of enabling them, to make the dismissals more
gradually, and therefore with less inconvenience to the people.[260]
It was either great negligence or a very grave error on the part of the
Government, that they began to close the public works against the people
before any other means of getting food was open to them.
Pages:
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727