WHAT OF THE HARVEST? 293 



There is a dead silence. Each side waits like diplomats 

 for the other side to show its hand. " Come on, gentle- 

 men," pleads the Chairman. " Some one must make a 

 start." 



" Well, we want 405.," blurts out the spokesman of the 

 workers, who is the county organiser. He gives his reason : 

 the extra cost of living ; the profits the farmers are making, 

 etc. The farmers lean back in their chairs, puff out their 

 cheeks, and murmur the word " ruination." 



" What about the poor land we have to farm ? " shouts 

 a farmer across the table, as though he were driving a horse- 

 rake across the stubble, and ignoring the Chairman. 



" Settle that with your landlord," replies a worker 

 promptly. An appointed member who is a landowner 

 moves uneasily in his chair. 



" Oh, the rent that's nothing," exclaims another farmer. 

 The appointed member looks relieved. 



" Then why make such a song of the Income Tax, now 

 that you are assessed on double rents because you won't 

 show your profits. And what about the profits you claim 

 to make when the Government wants your land for an 

 aerodrome ? " 



" Address the Chair, gentlemen, please," interposes 

 the Chairman, feeling his position is being rendered super- 

 fluous. " Be reasonable, and come to terms if you can." 



" Not a penny above 303.," declares the most dogged of 

 the farmers, " or the Government can take our farms." 



" Mr. Chairman," says the workers' representative, 

 " we are prepared to take possession." 



" Oh, I am not aware you are the Government," chides 

 the Chairman. The farmers laugh ; but neither side bates 

 a shilling. The Chairman then asks each side to retire. 

 They do so ; and pull out their pipes At the end of a 

 quarter of an hour each side is summoned back and the 

 Chairman gives the appointed members' decision : 323. 

 Thus does impartiality triumph. 



Then as the meeting closes one of the farmers greets 

 a ploughman with the 'remark : " You know, you fellows 

 would be quite content but for your trade union agitators " 



