24 FARMING ON FACTORY LINES 



In the first year many mistakes, which to an 

 experienced tillage farmer would be regarded as 

 examples of colossal stupidity, were made, but before 

 the second year had passed, a very fine standard of 

 labour efficiency had been obtained. Not to labour 

 this question further, the writer simply wishes to 

 add that he has had great experience in the manage- 

 ment of farm labourers, including Irish labour, in 

 England and elsewhere. Only in Ireland is the 

 efficiency of Irish labour ever questioned. Yet he has 

 no hesitation in saying that the labour on the farm 

 referred to, as well as that on several other Irish 

 farms, has proved itself to be, when given a suitable 

 reward, together with the necessary leadership, quite 

 as competent as English, Irish, Scottish, or any other 

 type of labour he has ever employed or supervised 

 outside of Ireland. 



INEFFICIENCY AMONG LABOURERS 



In Ireland we labour under many delusions, not 

 the least of which is, that in Ireland an Irishman, 

 of necessity, must be incompetent. A closing word 

 to farmers in general on this question. Inefficiency 

 among farm labourers, in nine cases out of ten is 

 either due to one, or other, or both of the following 

 causes — low wages with a low standard of comfort or 

 inefficiency on the part of the farmer himself. 



Be efficient yourself, Mr. Farmer. Get the labourers 

 into the habit of thinking that you yourself are the 

 most efficient workman on the place. Let them 

 understand that, when you are giving orders, you 

 are speaking with a mind formed and informed. 

 Above all, do not treat your labourers as inferiors. 

 Realise that the mud-stained peasant of the field is 

 the most important human factor in all countries 

 and in all ages I 



