20 



18s. per week instead of 14s., and the women 9s. per week instead of 7s., 

 during the hay and corn harvest. 



After this was settled, reflecting that the people would probably find it 

 impossible to supply themselves with a suitable substitute for the beer, and 

 would in a measure be driven to the public-house, I determined to supply 

 them with tea. I therefore purchased a common flat-bottomed H^ gallon iron 

 boiler, with a lid, long spout, and tap; this is taken in a cart to the field, 

 with a few bricks to form a temporary fireplace, a few sticks for the fire, 

 some tea in T-oz. packets, and sugar in 4-lb. packets. The first thing in the 

 morning, a woman lights the fire, boils the water, the bailiff" puts in the 7 ozs. 

 of tea in a small bag, to boil for ten to fifteen minutes, then removes it and 

 puts in 4 lbs. of sugar ; if skim milk can be spared, two to four quarts are 

 added, but this is not a necessity although desirable. All the labourers are 

 then at liberty to take as much as they like at all times of the day, beginning 

 at breakfast-time, and ending when they leave off" work at night. If the field 

 is large, they send large cans to the boiler for it ; so soon as the quantity in 

 the boiler is reduced to two gallons, it is drawn off" in a pail for consumption, 

 whilst another boilerful is being prepared. The knowledge that they have 

 at their disposal as much good tea as they choose to drink during every 

 minute of the day, materially lessens their thirst. 



This system has given the most perfect satisfaction during the last eight 

 years : the people have done more work with comfort to themselves, have 

 never been stupefied and quarrelsome, which they always were, more or less, 

 in the beer days, and go home sober at night instead of to the public-house, 

 as many formerly did. 



The increase of wages to be paid must of course depend on the quantity of 

 beer usually consumed; this varies in different localities ; but I have found 

 that a careful examination generally proves it to have been much more than 

 the employers suppose it to be. 



The cost of tea in my case is as follows : — s. d 



7 oz. of tea 1 



4 lbs. of sugar 1 2 



Skim milk, about 2 



2 4 



or 8^ gallons of tea, at 3^d per gallon. 



I liad 28 men and women employed in hay -making this year, and the 

 consumption M'as — gals. 



Generally, 2 boilers full per dav 17 



Occasionally, 2^ „ ., ' 21|- 



On one day, 3 ,, \- ^^ 



My calculation is, that they drink on the average two-thirds of a gallon 

 eacli per day, at a cost of 2d. 



Thus I pay them in lieu of beer 8d. per day in money and 2d. in tea, or 

 lOd. in all. 



Iiut if the change involved a much larger expenditure than the cost of the 

 beer, employers would be amply remunerated in the better and larger amount 

 of work done, the better disposition of their labourers, the decrease of pau- 

 perism, and the general well-being of the people. 



As a last word to employers. I would say, no half measures; let the 

 additional wages be given to the full value of the beer; let the tea be good, 

 and made with care in the field, not sent out from the house, or there will 

 not be enough ; be sure tliat it is always within the reach of every labourer, 

 without stint. See to this yourself: trust it to no one ; beer has many friends. 

 Be firm in carrying out the change, and it will be a source of great satisfac- 

 tion to you and to your labourers, with very little trouble and at no extra 

 expense." 



After two hours' discussion of the subject, the following resolution was 

 unanimously adopted : — 



•* That this Chamber considers it desirable to lessen the quantity of beer 

 carried into the harvest field, by paying in money rather than in kind : and 

 that it is also well to endeavour to provide non -intoxicating drinks, to prevent 

 the men spending their money at public-houses." 



