THE SONS OF TOIL. 157 



knowledge and understanding. Five years later, as President 

 of the Board of Agriculture, he introduced and piloted with 

 marked success the Bill containing a provision which for the 

 first time created a belief in the minds of rural workers that 

 the Government of the country really meant to benefit 

 them. Unhappily that belief has since been dispelled and 

 the nascent faith in the goodwill of Parliament has died 

 away. It was sorely tried in other ways. The well-meant 

 but unfortunate appeal during the war to the farm workers 

 retained on the land, to work an extra hour a day, without 

 any reference to pay for it, still rankles. Farmers and 

 labourers were at that time doing their utmost to increase 

 production under very difficult circumstances. The farmers 

 deservedly got much credit, but they were also making 

 money ; the workers got very little credit and still less 

 cash for their extra exertions. Increased production could 

 not fail to benefit the seller of the product as well as the 

 nation, but it brought little or no advantage to those who 

 actually produced it. The disappointment at the meagre 

 and tardy provision of land which had been so lavishly 

 promised to the men who returned was great and grievous. 

 The withdrawal, after only three years' trial, of the legal 

 minimum wage was the culmination of a series of cir- 

 cumstances for which the Government was but partly 

 responsible but for which it was wholly blamed. 



If the agricultural labourers have lost faith they have not 

 lost hope. Though once more disillusioned they have at last 

 realised that the future lies in their hands. To quote from 

 Lord Ernie's book once more : 



" The centre of power has shifted. It is no longer 

 landowners or tenant-farmers, either alone or in combina- 

 tion, who hold the key to the rural situation. It is the 

 agricultural labourer." 



The grip of essential facts and the insight into the heart 

 of the position shown by this observation, is more evident 

 now than when it was written. Since then farm labour has 

 become organised and has begun to realise its power. It 

 has found able and astute leaders. The agricultural labourer 

 not only " holds the key," but he will, in due time, use it. 



