MANUAL LABOUR. 167 



compared with the average rates for pieces of the same size, 

 may prevail. 



In level land, it is necessary to convey the converted wood 

 only to the nearest road, or timber-depot, and the amount 

 of labour involved is practically the same in all cases for 

 pieces of similar dimensions ; but in mountain-districts there 

 are, as a rule, great differences in this labour, and it is 

 usual to fix different rates for each felling-area at different 

 altitudes. [In Britain it is a common practice to pay for 

 felling and barking oak trees by the ton of bark that results 

 120 cub. ft. of timber usually yielding a ton of bark. Tr.] 



(f) Daily Wages. There are cases where either the work 

 done cannot be measured, or special demands are made on 

 the ability, experience and care of the workmen that must 

 be considered in fixing wages, for in these cases it is quite 

 exceptional that the work is at all proportional to the 

 energy expended on it. If a special agreement cannot be 

 made, daily pay should be given. Thus in cleanings or 

 early thinnings, in pruning trees, the work done cannot be 

 measured. For constructing the various means of water- 

 transport; making or repairing roads, slides, bridges; build- 

 ing substantial huts for workmen; setting-up fences, and so 

 on, the skill of a carpenter or engineer is required, although 

 it is frequently only a woodcutter who docs the work, and then 

 he should be paid in proportion to his skill. Only ex- 

 perience can guide the forest-manager in settling a fair wage 

 for such work. 



All the above conditions regarding wages form the terms of 

 a written agreement between the woodcutters and the forest 

 managers as a rule ; an agreement should be for an indefinite 

 time, with a stipulated period for notice by either party of its 

 termination. It is wrong to make the agreement only for a 

 year, as there may be difficulties about renewing it. It is 

 also wrong to delay a fresh agreement until the workmen 

 give notice of dissatisfaction with the current rates of pay ; 

 this may dissolve the friendly ties between the workmen and 

 their employer. 



The woodcutters' agreement, therefore, provides for its 

 renewal and for notice of terminating it, also for the rates of 



