25 



HAMPSHIRE. -Mr. Judd considers that the number of persons Change 



employed on the land has not diminished since 1901. Mr. -AgricuH 



Perkins thinks that the changes indicated in 1901 have con- p P ula1 

 tinned. 



(b.) Counties of Nottingham, Leicester, Rutland, Northampton, 

 Buckingham^ Oxford and Warwick. 



NOTTINGHAM. On the whole the changes are considered to 

 be still continuing in the same direction. 



LEICESTER. The general opinion is that little change has 

 taken place since 1901. Mr. Longwill observes that labour of 

 an inferior kind is more plentiful, but good all-round men 

 are difficult to find. 



RUTLAND. Mr. Wortley forwards expressions of opinion 

 from several farmers; the general impression is that the 

 decline is less marked, and may have entirely stopped. 

 According to one statement farms have been more easily let 

 and labour has been more plentiful during the last five or six 

 years. 



NORTHAMPTON. Mr. Rooke considers that the changes 

 indicated in 1901 still continue, but Mr. Dickson is of a 

 different opinion, since, trade having been less brisk, there 

 has been less temptation to leave the land and seek employ- 

 ment in other industries. In the Soke of Peterborough the 

 population is thought to have decreased very little since 1901. 



BUCKINGHAM. It is believed that the decline has continued 

 since 1901, Mr. Treadwell considers to a greater extent, but 

 Mr. Denchfield thinks it has been less marked during the last 

 two years. 



OXFORD. On the whole it is thought that circumstances are 

 about the same as in 1901, but Mr. Ashhurst thinks the decline 

 has certainly continued. 



WARWICK. The changes indicated in 1901 continue, though 

 not perhaps to the same extent; young smart men still leave 

 country pursuits. 



DIVISION III. 



(a.) Counties of Salop, Worcester, Gloucester, Wiltshire, Mon- 

 mouth and Hereford. 



SALOP. If the decline in population has continued at all 

 since 1901 it is less marked, and there may even have been a 

 movement in the opposite direction. Mr. Thursfield writes: 

 " The cottage labourers have not in my opinion decreased. 

 More cottages have been built, and are all filled by farm 

 labourers ; farmers, however, now keep fewer indoor workmen 

 and employ less casual labour." 



