76 THE AGRICULTURAL CLUB. 



generally recognised practice is regarded by his fellows very 

 much as trade unionists regard " blacklegs." But it is also 

 true that the workers themselves object to discrimination, 

 and in this objection they are supported by their Unions. 

 The objection does not arise from mere stupidity ; like the 

 attitude of the farmers it is based on a feeling of class loyalty, 

 and it is futile to condemn in one class what is approved by 

 another. 



It is a problem which requires attention by the leaders 

 both of the employers and workers, and it may well be that 

 if a satisfactory system of agricultural apprenticeship 

 could be established a step would be taken towards its 

 solution. 



The subject bristles with difficulties. The Agricultural 

 Wages Board gave a good deal of consideration to it at 

 various times and set up a Committee, which, however, made 

 little progress. A small step in the direction of establishing 

 the principle was taken by making a differentiation in the 

 minimum rates for boys who had had no previous experience 

 in Agriculture, and it is possible that in due time the Board 

 might have gone farther in the same direction. 



From the workers' point of view it was argued that farm 

 boys had paid for their apprenticeship in the low wages they 

 received. Mr. Hewitt, for example, stated that he served 

 his apprenticeship earning 6s. 6d. a week at the age of 

 sixteen and doing the same work as the men who were 

 getting I2s. a week. He reckoned that his employer got at 

 least 55. a week to pay for his apprenticeship. He had 

 worked twenty-three years for one employer for 135. a week, 

 although he could do anything on a farm. 



Mr. George Dallas approved the idea of apprenticeship in 

 principle provided there was a decent standard of living to 

 be attained by the skilled worker. " First give the labourer 

 a decent wage, a good cottage and the chance of a brighter 

 social life and then come along with a system of training. 

 We ought to get the old love of craftsmanship back into the 

 labourer's mind, encourage him to take an interest in his 

 horses, cattle and fields, and let him see that it was good for 

 him if he did his work well. Now he felt he was putting 



