322 ENGLISH AGRICULTURAL LABOURER. 



in England and Wales in July, 1914, was approximately 

 750,000, of whom about 693,000 were males and 57,000 

 females. These numbers were considerably reduced during 

 the war owing to enlistment, but in November, 1919, the 

 numbers rose again to 554,000 males and 60,000 females ; 

 and in January, 1920, it was estimated that there were 

 462,000 men, 588,000 boys and 49,000 women and girls. 1 

 These figures show, especially after the increase of arable 

 farming which took place during the war, that the land must 

 be starved of labour even more than it was in I9I4- 2 But it 

 is difficult to see how we are going to increase the number of 

 agricultural workers until there is more housing accommo- 

 dation available. 



In comparing these figures with those of the men 

 organised we realise how amazing has been the growth 

 of trade unionism amongst agricultural workers. Before 

 the war, or even in 1914, I doubt if there were more 

 than 15,000 farm labourers enrolled as members of the 

 National Agricultural Labourers' Union and the Workers' 

 Union, giving 10,000 to the former, according to their Trade 

 Union Congress figures in 1914, and 5,000 to the latter, based 

 on estimates I have made from enquiries of the chief officials. 



At the Conference of representatives of agricultural 

 workers in the Workers' Union held in January, 1920, in their 

 agricultural section alone a membership of 150,000 was 

 claimed. In the same month the N.A.L.U. reported to 

 me a membership of 200,000, all being farm workers, with 

 the exception of about 2,200, who are village blacksmiths, 

 and village carpenters, etc. 3 It is historic justice that 

 the town of Dorchester which condemned six men in 1834 

 to transportation for joining a trade union, should to-day 

 possess the strongest branch, with a membership of 900, 

 of any agricultural labourer's union. Amazing as was the 

 rapid growth of the N.A.L.U., that of the Workers' Union 

 was still more astonishing. Besides there are a number of 

 farm labourers enrolled in the National Union of Gen- 



1 Wages Board Gazette, April, 1920. 

 * Ibid., January i, 1920. 



8 In October 1919 the actual numbers were 170,749, which I take from 

 an official return I was privileged to see. 



