230 ENGLISH AGRICULTURAL LABOURER. 



Smith, and Mr. F. O. Roberts, (both of whom also became 

 Members of Parliament,) and collections were taken up 

 through the country for the victimised men. Cycling corps 

 were organised by the Trade and Labour Councils of North- 

 ampton, Kettering and Wellingborough. The membership of 

 the N.A.L.U. increased rapidly and spread its influence 

 into the adjoining counties. 



In justice to the farmers, let it be here said, that officially 

 they did not approve of Lord Lilford's action. The Mark 

 Lane Express, the official organ of the Farmers' Union, on 

 June 29, 1914, said : 



" We utterly fail to understand the attitude of the farmers of 

 these localities. We have heard a good deal lately of the blessed 

 word ' recognition.' Whatever it may really mean, might we 

 point out that one weak ineffective way of recognising the 

 labourers' effort to combine is to attempt to kill it by coercive 

 measures ? " 



The Times commenting upon Lord Lilford's attitude 

 said : 



" To turn good men off the land merely because they choose 

 to belong to a union, as we understand that he has done, is to 

 adopt an antiquated attitude wholly out of touch with the 

 current of thought and feeling to-day. He is trying to swim 

 against the stream, which is an exceedingly foolish proceeding. 

 The men have just as much right to belong to the Union, if they 

 choose, as he has to belong to the Carlton Club. . . . Lord 

 Lilford has taken the best possible course to stimulate the 

 movement he dislikes and to justify Mr. Lloyd George." 1 



The labourers' wives encouraged their husbands to hold 

 out, displaying that endurance which invariably distin- 

 guished their action in a strike. 



As the movement spread to Raunds and other villages, 

 inevitably the farmers were drawn into the dispute, and in 

 July they came to terms with the men, when it was agreed 

 that there should be is. a week increase wages for men, 

 6d. a week for boys ; 6d. an hour overtime for men earning 

 more than i6s. a week ; 4 o'clock stop on Saturdays ; rein- 

 statement of all men ; and withdrawal of all notices to quit. 



The Union was now " recognised " all over the Lilford 



* The Times, April 21, 1914, 



