LABOUR. 303 



wages. x\t the same time under the new influences the 

 suggested old caste barrier, which makes it appear — without 

 evil intent — that the farmer does not consider the labourer 

 as made of the same clay as himself, is sure to crumble to 

 pieces. That done, the question of hours and holidays 

 settles itself. For there is, after that, no more compulsion 

 for the labourer, only free contract. Dependent as he is, 

 in the main, upon his earnings, he is not likely to abuse 

 the newly gotten power of taking a holiday or curtailing 

 his working hours whenever he chooses. That would be 

 quarrelling with his own bread and butter. In point of 

 fact this matter settles itself. In Lusatia I could not compel 

 my labourers and their women-folk to come regularly and 

 keep the full number of hours. Had they missed often, 

 and had I had more labour at my command than I should 

 have known what to do with, I might have given them the 

 sack. But, as a matter of fact, they came regularly, only 

 too glad to earn their wage. However, whenever occasion 

 arose demanding that they should stay away, whether for 

 the day or for several days or for an hour, they would as 

 a matter of course^ — in order not to jeopardise their employ- 

 ment — inform the person placed above them. And, sup- 

 posing that their hours were inconvenient, they would be 

 reasonable, and alter them. And in this way all was 

 arranged amicably to mutual satisfaction. 



The question of a house and land in truth dominates the 

 question of wages. There can be no real improvement 

 till the agricultural labourer becomes a free householder. 



If our employer is to pay better wages, there must be a 

 competitor to compete with him. Hitherto he has been 

 practically the only bidder in his own market. That 

 market has shrunk. The article wanted has been with- 

 drawn. But the employer has been left in command of 

 the market so far as it goes. To the labourer it was a 

 question of taking or leaving — unless he would go away 

 altogether. And those employers who, from a want of 

 understanding of the circumstances have preferred to go 

 on farming in the old loppaty-loppaty style, have had the 

 satisfaction of maintaining low wages — at the cost of the 



