42 



5. Because to attempt to get more work out of them by the means of 

 stimulants than they would otherwise be likely to do, is degrading to the men, 

 and iu the end an act of short-sighted policy for myself. 



6. Because strong drink in the harvest-field tends, in the case of the men 

 to stupify them, to make them quarrelsome, and to send them at the' close of 

 the day to the public house, It is in this way that habits of intemperance are 

 formed 



7. Because in the case of women and lads strong drink is utterly out of 

 place. With the latter it leads to habits of beer-drinking in large quantities, 

 and lays the foundation of a life of intemperance and sin. With the former, 

 it leads too often to that female intemperance which has become the disgrace, 

 and is becoming more and more the danger, of our country. 



8. Because intemperance, more than any other cause, tends to demora- 

 lize the men, and produce a very inferior class of labourer, to the serious loss 

 of employers ; it also leads to crime, poverty, sickness, lunacy, death, and loss 

 of souls. 



9. Because the burden of poor and prison rates and of lunatic asylums 

 falls chiefly on the employers of labour, of whom 1 am one. 



10. Because strong drink, being proved to be such a cause of stumbling 

 to others, I am told not " to put a stumbling-block or occasion to fall " before 

 my brother or sister ; and that if I do I am bringing on myself the " woe ' 

 pronounced in Habbakuk ii. 15 ; Matt, xviii. 7. 



*AN AGRICULTUKAL LABOURER'S REASONS FOR 



DECLINING TO RECEIVE BEER INSTEAD OF MONEY 



IN THE HARVEST FIELD. 



1. Because *' a fair day's work " deserves " a fair day's wage," and the 

 " truck " system, which pays part in money and part in kind, is opposed 

 both to the law of the land and the interests of the labourer. 



2. Because this is equally true when working overtime. 



3. Because if the attempt is made to get more work out of a man, by 

 stimulating him with strong drink, such an attempt degrades him as a man, 

 and is likely to be followed by injurious consequences to his bodily health 

 and moral condition. 



4. Because it is far better to work for my employer's interests as if they 

 were my own, and to labour at all times '• with good will, doing service as to 

 the Lord and not to man, knowing that of the Lord we shall receive the 

 recompense of the reward." 



5. Because experience has everywhere shown that the man who takes 

 proper food and cooling drinks, can do the work of the harvest field better, and 

 with less fatigue, than the man who is heated and excited by strong drink. 



G. Because if this is true of myself, it is doubly true of the women and lads 

 who take part in the work. The craving for strong drink is not natural, but is 

 soon acquired. They will take what is provided for them, and do as the men 

 do to a great extent. Why should I, then, by my example " place a stumbling- 

 block, or occasion to fall," before the members of my own or another's family ? 



7. Because strong drink in the harvest-field leads too often to quarrels, 

 bad feeling, ill blood, loss of time and temper, and not unfrequently to actual 

 bloodshed. 



8. Because then, and at all times, I wish to have the control over myself, 

 and to be able to do my duty, and to live peaceably with all men. 



9. Because intemperance is the curse of my class and my country, degrad- 

 ng us, making us slaves to a vicious habit, producing poverty in our homes, 



filling our gaols with criminals, our unions with paupers, our asylums with 

 lunatics, and leading its victims to destruction both of body and soul. 



10. Because I wish to do my part in taking away this reproach from my 

 native land. >, 



