Croom Union, Ireland – The Croom Union has recently published its statement of balances for the half-year ended on September 30, 1903. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the union’s financial situation during this period.
According to the document, the union’s total outstanding debts amount to £1,439 12s 11d. On the debit side, the treasurer is owed £543 12s 2d for the ordinary account, while the clerk is due £30. The relieving officers are owed £74 14s 5d, and provisions and necessaries in hand are valued at £109 0s 4d. The stock of clothing and bedding stands at £519 17s 4d, with workhouse fare valued at £77. The coffins and shrouding on hand for workhouse burials are worth £2 10s 7d, and the board of management owes £32 18s 1d to the district school. Additionally, there is an expenditure in excess of loans, amounting to £50.
On the credit side, the treasurer is due £50 for the loan expenditure account, and there are unpaid bills totalling £261 2s 9d. However, the county of Limerick has a favourable balance in the union fund, amounting to £1,128 10s 2d, which offsets the debts. The balances on both sides of the statement match, confirming the accuracy of the report.
The statement of accounts is accompanied by certifications from both the clerk, James Coxwar, and the auditor, R. Bourke Jr. They confirm the correctness of the financial details presented in the report.
In his separate auditor’s report, R. Bourke Jr. brings attention to certain issues he discovered while examining the accounts. He notes that a significant amount of clothing has been provided to workhouse inmates upon their discharge, but several individuals were readmitted shortly after, with one case of reentry occurring after only five days. Bourke advises the Guardians to exercise greater care in granting clothes and urges them to thoroughly review each case before making decisions.
Bourke also highlights that a considerable number of cases in the separate register indicate unrecoverable debts from inmates. However, he suggests that individuals unable to pay should not be placed on this register. Instead, if their inability to pay is verified, the Guardians should write off the outstanding amounts through a resolution.
The Croom Union’s financial statement and the auditor’s report have been submitted to the Local Government Board in Ireland for review and further action. The board is expected to assess the union’s financial management and address the concerns raised by the auditor.
Limerick Echo – Tuesday 16 February 1904
