242 ENGLISH AGRICULTURAL LABOURER. 



In Norfolk 155. a week became the standard rate only 

 by January, 1915. 



At Thetford County Court the Judge said that in some 

 cases in Norfolk that came before him the agricultural 

 labourers only earned 3d. per hour. " That did not seem 

 to be a wage upon which a man could very well keep a 

 family," observed the Judge. 1 



With the cost of living risen 20 per cent., the National 

 Agricultural Labourers' Union now made a determined 

 effort in Norfolk to obtain 35. a week increase, which would 

 make the minimum i8s. 



In spite of the fact that we were at grips in a deadly 

 struggle with the enemy, the farmers actually went to the 

 length of refusing to meet the men's Union, 2 risking a 

 strike and all that a strike entailed. Their stubbornness 

 went so far as to compel the men to issue strike notices, 

 and these were served in a large area of Norfolk on the last 

 day of February. Then, and not till then, was a confer- 

 ence agreed upon ; and this was due to a chance meeting in 

 Norwich, of Mr. Overman (one of the best and most enlight- 

 ened farmers) and Earl Leicester, the Lord Lieutenant of 

 the County, with Mr. George Edwards and Mr. H. A. Day. 

 Even then the farmers officially held back. However, on 

 March n, the conference took place at Fakenham, where 

 Earl Leicester, Colonel J. E. Groom, and Mr. Lionel Rod- 

 well, Mr. W. Everington, Mr. A. Keith, and Mr. H. Over- 

 man represented the employers ; whilst Mr. W. R. Smith, 

 Mr. George Edwards, Mr. G. E. Hewitt, Mr. James Coe, 

 and Mr. R. B. Walker represented the Union. This meet- 

 ing was momentous and had a far-reaching effect. It was, 

 I think, the first time on record that a group of farmers 

 and landowners met representatives of a labourers' union. 



Mr. W. R. Smith most ably conducted the case for the 

 men, and on the promise that all strike notices should be 

 withdrawn it was agreed that the minimum wage should be 

 i8s. Mr. Overman said that the spirit displayed by the 



1 Richmond Herald, February 27, 1915. 

 1 Eastern Daily Press, February 26, 



