4. The Census figures record the population on the Temporary 

 1st of April. Can you say whether the number of and 

 Labourers temporarily employed on the land at par- 

 ticular seasons, e.g., for corn harvest, fruit-picking, 

 hop-picking, &G., has declined to a greater or less 

 extent than the resident labourers during the past 

 10 and 20 years respectively? 



ENGLAND. 



DIVISION I. 



(a.) Counties of Bedford, Huntingdon, Cambridge^ Su/olk^ 

 Hertford, Middlesex and London. 



BEDFORD. The decline in temporary labourers is stated to 

 be quite equal to, if not greater than, that of resident labourers, 

 owing to the great improvement of harvesting machinery. 



HUNTINGDON. Labourers temporarily employed in corn 

 harvest have declined to a greater extent .than the resident 

 labourers, i(n consequence of the greater use made of 

 machinery. The increased growth of vegetables and celery in 

 the Ramsey district has created a greater demand for labour 

 during the spring and autumn. 



CAMBRIDGE. In the corn-growing districts casual labour is 

 not now required at harvest, and has consequently declined 

 far more than the resident population. Mr. West, however, 

 writes : "I should say that never were there so many people 

 employed in fruit-picking and potato-lifting as at the present 

 time." 



CAMBRIDGE (!SLE OF ELY). ^With the increased use of 

 machinery the immigrant labourers have greatly declined, and 

 Irishmen appear to have ceased to come. At the same time 

 it is considered that the extra labour would not now be obtain* 

 able even if it were urgently required. 



SUFFOLK. Temporary labour has declined to a great extent* 

 largely owing to the general use of selfwinding reaping 

 machines ; it is now quite exceptional for a farmer to engage 

 men for harvest work, other than those regularly employed on 

 the land. 



ESSEX. Owing to the use of binding reapers there is prac- 

 tically no extra labour now employed for harvesting, and such 

 labour has declined very much more than the resident labour. 

 Mr. Grlenny remarks that there has been abundant casual labour 



