opposed to
his common sense. A third and a very large class of the labouring
population were opposed to task work, because they were able to earn so
very little at it. "Those who choose to labour may earn good wages,"
writes Colonel Jones to Mr. Trevelyan; but he forgot, or was ignorant of
the fact, that great numbers of the working class had been already so
weakened and debilitated by starvation, that they were unable to do what
the overseers regarded as a day's work; and it is on record that task
work frequently brought industrious willing workmen less money than they
would have received under the day's-work system.[149]

At the end of October a Treasury Minute was published to the effect that
such prices were to be allowed for Relief Works, executed by task, as
would enable good labourers to earn from one shilling to one shilling
and sixpence a day; the day's work system, at the wages fixed by the
Treasury Minute of the 31st of August, was to be in future confined to
those who were unable or unwilling to work by task. There was some
concession in this. Under it the labourer could choose piece work or
day's work as seemed more advantageous to himself. The spirit, at least,
of the August Treasury Minute was, that all should work by task. "The
persons employed on the Relief Works," says that Minute, "should, to the
utmost possible extent, be paid in proportion to the work actually done
by them." In a few instances task work was reported to have given
satisfaction, but in the great majority of cases it was resisted by the
labourers, and it sometimes resulted in serious disturbances, as we have
seen. The local Committees, who had much to do with preparing the lists
of those whose circumstances made them proper objects for the public
works, were repeatedly complained of by the Government officials.
Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, who appears to have been more severe and
distrustful than his subordinates, accuses Committees of insulting his
officers, producing improper lists, and even of balloting amongst
themselves for the persons who were to be put upon the works.

With regard to the first accusation there was generally a counter-charge
from the Committees, accusing the Board's officers of being insulting
and overbearing to them. One of the most noteworthy cases of this kind
occurred at Ennistymon. Captain Wynne, the Board of Works' inspector,
writes a long complaint about the treatment he had received from the
members of the