THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



107 



KINGSCOTE AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 



The January meeting of this association was held on the 

 3rd. In consequence of the very unpropitious state of 

 the weather, tlie attendance was not so numerous as 

 usual. This was to be regretted, the subject for considera- 

 tion being of great importance, viz, "The best means 

 of establishing confidence and imparting a mutual under- 

 standing between agriculturists and their labourers." It 

 was introduced in a very able manner by Mr. F. Burnett, 

 as follows : — 



Mr. Burnett said : Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, it 

 must be admitted that this subject is one of the greatest in- 

 terest and importance, as the condition of the whole com- 

 munity depenJs upon its several parts. It is therefore 

 impossible that too much attention can be given to it by any 

 class, but more especially by those with whom the labourer 

 is brought into dail}' contact. I doubt not mucli has been 

 done and is doing to promote that kind feeling and mutual 

 understanding which most essentially ought to exist 

 between the agriculturist and his labourers, but I am sorry 

 to say I cannot see that marked improvement which we 

 often hear of, and which is much to be desired. The in- 

 ditferent and unkindly feeling existing in many instances, 

 goes a great way to prove that some very important point 

 is deficient, if it does not prove that the whole system is 

 bid. If the connection between the employer and the em- 

 ployed is to be improved, we must bear in mind that every 

 position has its influence, every means its effect, and every 

 way an end. If the labourer is to live a contented and 

 moral life, it is necessary that he should have the example 

 of it in his superior. If he is to be comfortable, he must 

 have an opportunity of being so, and it will be in vain to 

 persuade him to change his ways, unless it be proved to him 

 that the change will be for his present and future advantage. 

 Much may be done to obtain the service of his heart as well 

 as of the hands; but it must be borne in mind that all must 

 be done in a friendly spirit, emanating solely from a desire 

 for the benefit of the labourer, otherwise he will imagine his 

 employer influenced by selfish views, instead of seeking his 

 advantage alone ; while should he see him anxious to pro- 

 mote his interest, and find his comforts increased under his 

 direction, it will insure his confidence, which is the first step 

 towards imparting a good and mutual understanding between 

 the, agriculturists and the labourer. Master as well as 

 man need to keep in mind the true principles of religion, 

 with respect to their duty towards God and towards their 

 neighbour. If this were strictly attended to, I am satisfied 

 the lelation of both would be satisfactorj"-, while without 

 this it can never be. The worldly relations and interests of 

 the two are directly opposed to each other, the labourer 

 naturally requiring the largest possible remuneration for his 

 service, and the employer as naturally wishing to get his 

 work done for the smallest amount of pay. " Do unto 

 others as you would be done by" — " Bear and forbear," are 

 the great maxims by which our actions should be regulated 

 in out dealings with one another ; and when these great 

 principles of truth actuate all our conduct, the path of life, 

 which otherwise would be a rugged one, becomes com- 

 paratively smooth ; and whatever may be our station, or 

 share of this world's prosperitj', that may fall to us, this 

 great principle must be our rule, if it is our desire to 

 establish confidence, and promote a good understanding 

 amongst those with whom we are in constant and daily in- 

 tercourse, whether as masters or servants. Keeping this in 

 mind, as we are naturally bound to do, if we have any 

 liopes of success, we will now proceed to discuss how the re- 

 lations of masters and servants may be improved socially ; 

 and first, as to the master. It is unfortunately too much the 

 practice of masters to consider they have fulfilled all duties 

 when payment has been made for work done ; and on the 

 other hand for the mtn to consider their duties are fulfilled 

 when the day's work is done ; but they forget that there are 

 cliiims from each of them, of the duties of neighbours, and 

 the claims for mutual sympathy to the best of their respective 



abilities. Masters are indirectly in a great measure responsi- 

 ble for the conduct and behaviour of those placed under them 

 (in servitude). It may not be necessary for the master to 

 take upon himself the duties of the clergyman or the school- 

 master ; but if he has the ability or the inclination, how wide 

 a field of usefulness is there open for him, in devoting some 

 portion of his time in giving instructions to the young people 

 whom he employs, and who are in such need of this instruc- 

 tion. — Mr. Burnett went on to say that it was the duty of the 

 master to set a good example to his laboui-ers in respect to 

 morality, and especially with regard to the observance of 

 the Sabbath. He then alluded to the habitations of the 

 labourers, which he said were, in many cases not in unison 

 with the accommodation provided for the inferior animals, 

 and incapable of affording the means of keeping up the com- 

 mon decencies of life. What was also to be regretted, too, 

 was the distance the labourer had often to walk to and from 

 his home. This brings us (continued Mr. Burnett) to the 

 point where the third person has a duty to perform ; although 

 for the couditiou and comfort of the labourer, and the interest 

 of the employer, it must be the duty of the landlord to pro- 

 vide suitable accommodation for the labourer, conveniently situ- 

 ated for the cultivation of the farm, and also to his interest, 

 as each requires that the land should be so cultivated as to 

 yield the largest amount of produce at the least amount of 

 cost. This, I am pleased to say, many of the landlords in this 

 neighbourhood have fully entered into, not merely for their 

 own interest, but to promote the feeling which they are desi- 

 rous to see exist between all classes. I will not go into detail 

 as regards the style and expense of building labourers' cot- 

 tages, as it is not directly bearing on the subject for discus- 

 sion, but will briefly state what a labourer requires for the 

 accommodation of his family. It is a habitation suflSciently 

 roomy and substantial, furnished with appliauces to answer 

 his and their daily wants, with not less than three bedrooms, 

 and four are desirable, if there is not sufficient room in the 

 farmhouse for the young men and lads you may require, one 

 room as eating and sitting room, and a wash-house with fire- 

 place, boilers, and oven. All with a sufficiency of light and 

 ventilation ; a window to open in each room, as the health of 

 the inmates depends much on well-aired room?, also upon the 

 proper drainage of the premises. A garden of not less than 

 a quarter of an acre should certainly adjoin the cottage. A 

 garden to a labourer's family is of the greatest importance. 

 It affords many comforts which they otherwise would not pos- 

 sess, and is a great source of pleasure and interest to parents 

 and children, where they can plan and work together and see 

 the fruits of their labour, and where the children can learn to 

 dig, hoe, and weed, under the eye of the mother. This is far 

 preferable to the allotment system ; indeed, an allotment is 

 not required when a man has a garden of that size, for it is 

 quite sufficient for him to work without interfering with his 

 employer's time, and whatever serves to divert him from a re- 

 liance upon his daily wages as a means of support must tend 

 to derange the relation between him and his employer, and 

 will eventually prove injurious to both. — Mr. Burnett then 

 went on to say that it was important that all the labourers 

 employed on a farm should be engaged for a whole year, and 

 referred with satisfaction to the recently-established register 

 offices, as far preferable to the old-fashioned hiring fairs and 

 mops. He then considered the question of payment in kind, 

 and quoted the opinion of Mr. John Grey, of Dilston, who 

 contrasted North Country customs (where payment in kind 

 prevailed) with those of the South, to the advantage of the 

 former. His (Mr. Burnett's) own opinion, however, was in 

 favour of a money payment. Then as to the amount of 

 wages, this must be regulated by the laws of supply and de- 

 mand, and any interference between master and man would 

 be productive of injurious consequences. It has been well 

 observed by Mr. J. C. Morton (continued Mr. Burnett), that 

 good masters should treat their servants not according to 

 their need, but according to their merits. Let us pay men 

 according to their need, and we shall soon hare them needy 



