i66 LAND REFORM . 



and an independence worthy of respect and admira- 

 tion. 



In March, 1872, the "Warwickshire Agricultural 

 Labourers' Union" was formed. The movement spread 

 so rapidly that at the end of May a great gathering 

 of delegates from all parts of the country was held at 

 Leamington, and the " National Union of Agricultural 

 Labourers " was formed.^ The meetings of delegates 

 and friends were presided over by the late George 

 Dixon, M.p. for Birmingham, and the Hon. Auberon 

 Herbert. Arch was elected president, and Henry 

 Taylor was made secretary. An executive committee 

 was appointed, composed of twelve labourers. It was 

 decided to have a " consultative committee of gentle- 

 men, with no power to vote, but for consultation and 

 advice." Trustees were also nominated in whose 

 names the funds of the Unions were to be invested. 



The movement received a large amount of financial 

 support from outsiders, from men who were convinced 

 that something should be done to deal with the low 

 depths of destitution into which the labourers were 

 sunk." 



The combination was a leQal one and its aims were 

 moderate. Arch held out hopes to the men that, by 

 union, they would secure sixteen shillings per week, 



^ The present writer took part in these inaugural meetings. He was 

 elected a member of the committee, which, with the executive committee, 

 met at Leamington once a fortnight. He was also appointed a trustee 

 for the funds of the Union. The only other surviving trustee is Mr. 

 Edward Jenkins (author of " Ginx's Baby "). Mr. Jenkins for many years 

 did good work for the Union. A newspaper was started, which secured 

 a great circulation under the conduct of Matthew Vincent, who, by his 

 able and sympathetic writings, placed before the public in a plain and 

 skilful manner the conditions of the men and the objects of the Union. 



'■^ The trustees had for some time many thousands of pounds in their 

 hands, but the strikes, lock-outs, migrations, and other expenses made 

 great inroads on the funds, and finally exhaujled ihem. 



