246 ENGLISH AGRICULTURAL LABOURER. 



On August 23 the Small Holdings Colonies Act, 1916, 

 came into force, but this I will discuss later. 



Before the year was out a demand was voiced by the 

 N.A.L.U. for a minimum wage of 255. a week, which was the 

 minimum being paid in Nottingham. The Scottish agri- 

 cultural labourer had secured his 305. a week by January, 

 1916, with meal, potatoes, and a free house ; and yet in 

 England farmers in many counties were still paying less 

 than i a week, although the cost of living had risen in 

 January, 1916, 45 per cent. In Bucks only i6s. was being 

 paid in the Cuddington district, and Essex workers had not 

 yet been able to secure i8s. a week ; whilst in Dorset wages 

 were still as low as even 143. I myself, whilst staying in 

 the Isle of Purbeck in September of 1916, came across 

 instances of able-bodied men who were working at as low 

 a wage as 135. and 145. a week ! 



A great stride was made in the spring of this year in 

 Norfolk by the N.A.L.U. when for the first time the farmers 

 officially recognised the men's Union, and held a conference 

 at the Royal Hotel, Norwich, on February 19, with the 

 result that the minimum wage of i per week, with over- 

 time payment of 6d. per hour, was agreed upon for the 

 whole county. 



In Shropshire, a dispute arose this summer at the Earl 

 of Powis's estate at Bishop's Castle. The Earl, it appears, 

 was paying wages on his home farm lower than his tenants 

 round him, and after serving notices the organiser secured 

 an increase of 2s. 6d. a week, bringing the sum up to 

 255., which was higher than in most midland and southern 

 counties. Some stiff fighting, though, even up to the 

 application for ejectments, had to be undergone before in- 

 creases were obtained in this campaign. By October, 255. per 

 week was the common wage throughout the whole county. 



A dispute at Bassingham, Lincolnshire, took place in 

 June, during which one employer dismissed two members 

 for daring to ask another workman to join the Union. This 

 action was resented by the men, and they withdrew their 

 labour from his farm. This resulted in an increase of 

 as. 6d. per week. 



