GO AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH RURAL HISTORY 



Results o! the National Union. 



Although the National Agricultural Labourers' Union 

 came to a premature end, its effects were far-reaching. 

 After its collapse as a purely Trade Union effort, in 1874, 

 its more active members directed their energies towards 

 political action with the view of raising the status of the 

 agricultural labourer. Their efforts were rewarded in 

 1884, when the franchise was bestowed upon the county 

 householder. 



But the Trade Union spirit had not entirely departed 

 from the breast of the agricultural labourer. District 

 Unions were still in being ; and, about 1890, the old National 

 revived somewhat. Delegates from the Dockers' Union 

 sought to keep alive the Trade Union spirit in certain rural 

 areas. In many districts the Land Restoration League 

 aimed at educating the agricultural labourers by means 

 of lectures, leaflets, and other methods. New Union 

 branches were, accordingly, formed. In 1 898, the Workers' 

 Union came into existence, its purpose being the organizing 

 of unskilled labour of all kinds. A year later, it made 

 definite attempts to organize farm labourers in certain 

 counties. 



It may, therefore, be fairly claimed that the Unions 

 produced for the rural worker a new " outlook." Village 

 social life was roused. The village feast-day was revived. 

 Great importance was attached by Union leaders to the 

 need for education. The Poaching Prevention Act of 

 1862 empowered the police to stop suspected poachers on 

 the highways and in other public places, and to search 

 them. This indignity was most properly resented by the 

 labourers ; and the agitation in favour of a change in the 

 law was another outcome of the Union. By the Act of 

 1880, tenants of land were empowered to kill ground game, 

 whilst the Acts of 1906 and 1908 extended similar rights to 

 tenants. Among other fruits of the Union's efforts may 

 be mentioned the passing of the Allotments Acts of 1882 

 and 1887, the Small Holdings Acts of 1892 and 1894, and 

 the Parish Councils Act and the Local Government Act 

 of 1894. 



Joseph Arch. 



No summary of the activities of the National Agricul- 

 tural Labourers' Union would be complete without some 

 reference to its great leader, Joseph Arch. This remarkable 



