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most systems of cultivation an area of about 25 acres is necessary to 

 provide for a family ; and to provide holdings of this size for this 

 number of men would require nearly half the cultivated area of England 

 and Wales. It is, however, almost impossible to imagine the establish- 

 ment of even 100,000 holdings, and such a miracle would still leave 

 the rural workers without any solution of their general problems. 



There are, too, many reasons for caution in the process of establishing 

 small holdings. Chief of these is that production is apt to be more 

 costly, especially in human labour, on small than large units. The 

 production per acre is generally higher on small than large farms, but 

 production per man is usually much lower ; and it is upon the production 

 per man that the standard of living of the actual producer ultimately 

 depends. Also, the general position of the rural worker is somewhat 

 weakened by the establishment of the keenest and most intelligent 

 workers on holdings of their own, for this tends to rob the class of its 

 natural industrial leaders. The small holder often remains the political 

 leader of his associates amongst the labourers, but his industrial interests 

 change to some extent on his becoming an independent cultivator. 



So long as the great bulk of the land is cultivated in units on which 

 hired labour must be employed, and the majority of the workers must 

 be employees, it is to the advantage of the worker, the farmer, and the 

 nation to retain the better class workers on the larger holdings. 



The question of rates of wages will not be ultimately settled even if 

 legal minimum rates become the reality they promise to be.* There 

 will be constant necessity for adjustment of details, and if minimum 

 rates are to accomplish the aim of retaining population on the land 



* Previous to 1914 a good deal of attention had been given to rates of wages 

 earned by agricultural labourers, and there should be no need to give figures. 

 Since 1914 the changes in the rates of wages have varied considerably. In some 

 districts with a large proportion of labourers over forty years of age the changes 

 have been slight and tardily made ; in other districts where a large proportion 

 of young men were employed the changes came more quickly and were more im- 

 portant. In the summer of 1916 it was officially stated that the general increase 

 amounted to 30 per cent., but there are still many districts in which cash wages 

 do not exceed 1 per week, and some in which they had not reached that figure 

 at the end of last year. This increase in rates is not sufficient to meet the rise in 

 prices, but in many cases employment and earnings are more regular than a few 

 years ago, and conditions are better to that extent. From the employers' point 

 of view the increases are considerable as they have mostly been given to men over 

 military age, whilst the most vigorous of the young horsemen or ordinary labourers 

 have gone into the army or to industrial employment. It is now claimed that the 

 action of the Director of National Service has established a minimum wage of 

 25s. per week for all farm workers who enrol under his scheme, and it is stated 

 that a Government Bill is in preparation to make this minimum general. 



Wages of women field workers before the war varied between Is. and 2s. per day, 

 but were generally about Is. 6d. The rates now paid vary from 3d. per-hour 

 for odd work, to 12s. and up to 1 per week of 48 to 54 hours for weekly work. 

 Up to the end of 1916 some women were still working for 6s. per week. In no 

 district would the average rate amount to more thanl per week for the-time worked, 

 and nowhere, except in Scotland, would the average for the year amount to 1 

 per week. In many districts the average earnings for the year would vary between 

 20 and 40 for women who are wholly or mainly self-supporting. 



