The question of task work has been dealt with already.  It was insisted on at a time when a very large number of the working poor were so exhausted with starvation that their physical capacity for work of any kind was almost completely gone.  This fact is more than sufficiently proved by the evidence given at various coroners’ inquests; still the Government persevered in insisting upon it, and Colonel Jones was amongst the most determined in doing so.  In addressing the House on the present occasion, Lord John Russell said it was reported to the Government that the people on the Public Works were seen loitering about the roads; that the Government then introduced task work; that it met great opposition, but that the Lord Lieutenant remained firm, and had it carried out; an announcement which was received with “loud cheers.”  And no one would be inclined to find fault with task work, if the people had strength enough left to earn fair wages at it, but they had not—­a fact which was, long before, evident to everybody but the Government; but even they saw it, or at least were compelled to acknowledge it at last, and then the Prime Minister is furnished with a convenient letter from the same Colonel Jones, so late, he tells the House, as the 19th of January, in which that gentleman informs the Premier that it would be better to give the people food for nothing than to give them any more money; and as for task work, the Colonel says of them, that “their strength was gone, and they had not power to exert themselves.”  This looks wonderfully like a letter written to order.  The people, for many months, had been quite unequal to task work, but the Colonel could never see it until the line of policy resolved upon by his chief required him to clear his vision.  “Sir,” continued Lord John, “the opinion of the Government previously to the receipt of this letter was, that the system had become so vast in itself, while at the same time destitution and want of food had so greatly increased, that it was desirable, if possible, to attempt some temporary scheme by which, if possible, some of the evils which now met us might be mitigated, and with so vast an expenditure of money, some more effectual relief might be afforded.”  He then laid his new scheme before the House. 1.  His first proposal was to form the country into districts, with a relief committee in each, empowered to receive subscriptions, levy rates, and receive donations from the Government.  By these means the committees were to purchase food, and establish soup-kitchens in the different districts, where food was to be distributed without any labour test; the labourer, however, was to be allowed to work on his own plot of ground, for the next harvest.  The Lord Lieutenant, he said, and the Board of Works were consulted about this, and approved of it.  The system was to be carried out in the first instance by a preparatory measure, and then by a Bill to be proposed to Parliament. 2.  As soon as circumstances