ON MEASURE-WORK. 255 



clialking', dig-ging- ditclies, &c., require an opening* of the 

 land to enable either party to estimate the ])rice. The 

 too frequent practice is to say, " Go on, and I will do what 

 is rigiit when we settle." The consequence is, generally 

 a squabble on the day of reckoning", for the men expect more 

 than the job is worth, because they have spent so much time 

 over it; and the master offers a little more than the woges of 

 men at day-work, because he will not trouble himself to value 

 the actual job. The fair price is in such cases seldom 

 given. The parishioners often refuse a job at a fair price, 

 because they say " they must have work or be kept." The 

 strangers take the same at a fair bargain, and do well. 

 I could mention case after case to illustrate this fact. The 

 spirit of opposition should be firmly and fairly met by 

 proving", when it is finished, the correctness of the vabie 

 which had been affixed to the job before it was commenced. 

 It is also essential to estimate the time in which the job can 

 be pi'operly finished ; and it should be made a part of the 

 barg-ain that the job should be completed by a given day, 

 unless the weather prevent it. jNo other excuse should 

 hinder it, for in the case of illness or other inability the con- 

 tract should cease at once. It must not be forgotten that 

 no summary remedy exists for the enforcing- any contracts 

 for measure-work ; and that often the labourer who works in 

 a party — of which the foreman alone agrees with the mas- 

 ter, and the rest of the men ag'ree with the foreman — is 

 cheated by the foreman, and has no redress for which he 

 can afford to pay. The master should therefore protect the 

 whole of the men by- some arrangement as to their individual 

 payment. The drenching with liquor — beer, ale, or cider — 

 is generally approved by the men, as it excites them for the 

 time, and gives them what they call " a heart to work ;" but 

 it is very imwise to adopt it as a practice. I advise that, 

 when they can be led to abandon the gratification, a money 

 payment, rather exceeding the value of the liquor, should be 

 made to them, which benefits their families, and enables 

 the men to improve their diet. But at all events, if 

 they cannot be led to abandon the liquor, I should advise 

 the substitution of a supply of meat in lieu of a portion of the 

 liquor, giving thereby strength to the men, and averting the 

 evils of intemperance. Where the men are single or without 

 family, I have found it difficult to lead them to abandon the 

 temporary gratification ; but in that case, I would narrow 

 the allowance as much as possible, and give them the re- 



