Power to Dissolve a Board of Guardians

The power of dissolving a Board of Guardians, and immediately appointing paid officers for the discharge of their duties, was given by Government, apparently under some feeling of distrust as to the general efficacy of the existing machinery for the administration of outdoor relief under the circumstances existing.

It was felt that a small number of paid officers was calculated to remedy the leading defects incidental to the administration of relief by a Board of Guardians. They would not be led by any undue considerations to decline the making of sufficient rates, or the enforcement of their impartial and prompt collection.

They would have time at their disposal amply sufficient for the conduct of the general business of the Union and the control of the subordinate officers, for superintending the details of workhouse management, etc. They would be enable to devote to the various duties, instead of a part of one day weekly, many hours of every day in each week, unimpeded by the lengthened discussions unavoidable in a more numerous assemblage of Guardians.

Serious default in the discharge of the duties of the Guardians resulted in the dissolution of the Boards of Guardians at Clifden, Galway, Gort, Loughrea and Tuam, and the appointment of paid officers to act in the carrying out of their duties. The Poor Law Commissioners recorded in the case of Ballinasloe their satisfaction in which the administration of relief continued to be conducted efficiently for the most part by the ordinary means of management, viz., by the elective Board of Guardians.