MISCEI^IvANEOUS NEWS 



scha/tsrat) gave the subject of the gradual diminution of the emplojmient 

 of foreign labour the first place on its agenda for the loth. February. 



The necessity for German agriculture to have recourse to foreign 

 labourers, to the number in late years of 400,000, must be especially attrib- 

 uted, according to Prof. Gerlach (Konigsberg), to the great need of labourers 

 at a fixed season for the cultivation of beetroot, and to the excessive 

 emigration from the country to cities and manufacturing districts. There 

 is, besides, as Baron von Thiingen pointed out, a reason we must be very 

 grateful for, that is, the immense increase of agricultural production. 



The fact that German agriculture must, in default of native labour, 

 become dependent on foreign aid is a much more serious cause for anxiety 

 than the mere exodus from the country. It is necessary to take measures 

 calculated to render foreign labour gradually superfluous. Prof. Gerlach 

 and Baron von Thiingen especialty recommended that an increase in the rural 

 population should be encouraged through the raising of the standard of 

 living and the improvement of the economic conditions of the peasantry. 

 With the unanimous approval of the meeting, they maintained the 

 necessity of arresting the decrease in the birth rate in agricultural districts, 

 and also of restricting the liberty of the young to emigrate, of proceeding 

 to a division of landed property in accordance with the requirements of 

 agriculture in the different districts and providing for the welfare of the 

 peasantry in the widest sense of the word ; they also pointed out the need 

 for collecting information requisite for a scientific study of the subject 

 of agricultural labour and the economic condition of peasants and small 

 proprietors. 



Prof. Gerlach maintained that, in order to improve the condition 

 of the peasants, it is of great importance to keep in mind the intimate 

 connection between the general interests of agriculture and those of rural 

 labourers ; to secru'e their admission into social and co-operative agricultural 

 institutions wherever this may be found to further their interests ; to pro- 

 vide amusement and instruction for young people by m^eans of lessons on 

 the local conditions, popular libraries, public entertainments and clubs 

 and finally to increase considerably the number of small and very small 

 rural holdings, because home colonisation as hitherto conducted, 

 although it has succeeded in creating peasant holdings, is not sufficient 

 by itself. In districts where there is no land to be let or sold on which 

 agricultural labourers can be established, the German Council of Agri- 

 culture recommends that, according to the example set by Mecklenburg, 

 land should be granted to the commune, which should in its turn let it for 

 a small rent to labourers. At the same time, care should be taken that 

 healthy dwelhngs be erected, and corporations in public law should 

 encourage such building by grants of credit. 



Another method suggested by the Council of Agriculture of diminish- 

 ing the necessity for foreign labour is the use of machinery in agriculture, 

 (c) How to Obtain the Necessary Means for Building Workmen's Houses 

 in the Country. — With the previous subject the efforts directed to 

 the improvement of dwellings in the country are closely connected. An 



