TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 787 



slight relief would be obtainable in this way ; the coimection with the Sinking 

 Fund would be unsatisfactory. 



More fundamental remedies are : — 



(4) Alteration of 2^ per cent, stock to 3 per cent., with corresponding increase 

 of purchasers' annuities. In this case there would be a necessary loss to landlords 

 and tenants. The claim that the State is bound by the Act of 1903 was 

 examined. 



(5) Transfer of the State grant from bonus fund to an insurance against loss 

 on issues. Objections are raised on the ground of unequal treatment and 

 hindrance to sales. 



Possibly methods 4 and 5 might be combined. 



(6) Further assistance from the British Exchequer. The unexpected magnitude 

 of the transaction may justify a proportional increase in financial aid. Possibly 

 compensation may be obtained through administrative reforms. 



The land-purchase policy is closely dependent on general economic conditions. 

 Changes in the latter are accountable for the difficulties that have arisen. 

 Particular interest of Irish landlords. 



Governmental action is limited by the above indicated conditions. The 

 special difficulties arising out of war finance were examined. 



2. The Housing of the Working Classes in Ireland. By N. J. Synnott. 



The problem covers not only housing of town and country labourers, but also 

 that of artisans and skilled labourers in towns and of many farmers and cottiers in 

 the country. The deficiency of accommodation in Ireland is not due to the same 

 causes as was the deficiency in many English districts — e.r/., increase of population 

 or shifting of labour centres. The general standard of accommodation is lower than 

 in England, and there has not been here the same rigorous enforcement of sanitary 

 laws against owners or occupiers. Private effort or capital has not supplied in 

 Ireland the deficiency of sanitary houses either in town or country. 



The following public inquiries have been made : Richmond and Bessborough 

 Commissions (1879-1882) ; Select Committee on Agricultural Labourers, Ireland 

 (1884) ; Royal Commission on the Housing of the Working Classes, Ireland 

 (Urban Dwellings) (1885) ; Royal Commission on liabour (1894) ; Viceregal 

 Committee on Housing (1900). The Report of 1885 proved to be wrong in its 

 diagnosis by results. The Report of 1894 was not acted upon in regard to 

 housing and sanitation. 



The state of house accommodation in cities and towns in Ireland may be 

 gathered from the Census returns, the Reports of Assistant Commissioners in 

 1894, and the Local Government Board Inspectors' Reports ; 750,000?. has been 

 the total amount of loans for housing, and 7,631,000/. the total amount of loans 

 for sanitation, water-supply, &c. The existing machinery for securing sanitation, 

 removing insanitary houses, and supplying new houses are the Public Health Acts, 

 the Housing of the Working Classes Acts, and certain local Acts. A short 

 analysis was made of the purview and machinery of these Acts — the aim of the 

 Legislature and experience in their actual working. 



It is questionable whether the Public Health Acts are suitable for Irish rural 

 districts or small towns and villages. Besides, they are adoptable only, and in 

 many districts they have not been adopted. Even where adopted they are often 

 a dead letter. There is no adequate system of inspection and report. The staft' 

 is neither adequate, effective, nor independent of local influences. Proceedings 

 are not taken to abate nuisances or orders are not enforced. Local bodies are 

 inert, or do not like doing unpopular things, or increasing the rates. 



The machinery of Parts I. and II. of the Housing of the Working Classes 

 Act is far too elaborate and expensive ; this has been found even in England. In 

 rural districts they seem quite unsuitable, and are a dead letter. Besides, there is 



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