The Abbeyfeale Branch of the United Irish League convened a meeting with Rev. W. Casey, P.P., in the chair, and several members present, including Messrs. W. P. Broderick, T. T. O’Connell, D.C.; T. J. Keane, D.C.; J. O’Keeffe, M. L. Harnett, J. B. Cotter, P. O’Connell, W. Cotter, C. Donohue, C. O’Rourke, W. D. Harnett, R. C. Harnett, D. L. Harnett, J. Murphy, D. Riordan, H. Carvoll, J. Walsh, J. Failey, John Harnett, P. Moloney, J. Relihan, W. Harnett, P. Casey, I. Roche, J. Sheehy, J. Lynch, W. Crimmins, J. Bandon, J. Flynn, I. Sheehy, J. O’Connor, M. Collier, J. Failey, C. Keeffe, J. Doody, M. Lyons, T. Keane, and others.
The primary focus of the meeting was a discussion of the Labourers Bill. Rev. W. Casey, P.P., began by encouraging attendees to propose any suggestions that might enhance the scope of the Labourers Bill. He personally believed that provisions regarding the distribution of waste lands should be included if possible.
Mr M. Sweeney expressed gratitude toward Mr Bryce for introducing the Bill. However, he emphasized that it should ensure that labourers receive at least enough land to support a cow, as farmers typically allocate two acres for each cow.
Mr J. Roche interjected, highlighting a recent issue where poor individuals were prohibited from keeping their cows on the road due to legal restrictions.
Rev. W. Casey acknowledged that not everyone might agree with him, but he felt that labourers should remain as their own landlords since they had a say in electing District Councillors. He suggested that labourers might not fare any better if they purchased land.
Mr J. Murphy raised an important concern, asserting that existing tenants should not be obligated to pay poor rates, as it placed an undue burden on them. He called for an amendment to rectify this situation.
Rev. W. Casey proposed that labourers continue paying rates, as not doing so might result in increased rents. He pointed out that some Unions in Limerick County had already reached the legal limit for building cottages under the old Acts, and the ratepayers would have to bear the principal and interest at the old rate. In contrast, Unions in the North that hadn’t taken such actions would benefit from the new lower interest rate on loans.
After further deliberation, the following resolution was passed:
“That we strongly urge the necessity for providing under the Labourers Bill that the rents of existing labourers’ cottages ought to be reduced proportionately to the rates paid by cottiers; and that the relief clauses of the Bill should be retrospective to enable the ratepayers in Unions like Limerick County, who acted generously towards the labourers in exhausting the legal final limit under the Labourers Acts, to receive some alleviating subsidy under the new regime.”
During the meeting, other matters concerning cottages were discussed. Mr J. Riordan voiced his dissatisfaction that his cottage had not yet been built, even though it had been approved along with others.
Kerry News – Wednesday 27 June 1906
