88 



Temporary in Essex during the last seven years, whereas previously 



and workers were often scarce in the summer. Mr. McMillan, on 



Migratory the other hand, says that in his locality (Ingatestonej it is 



Labour. almost impossible to get extra hands other than " unfits " at 



special seasons and that a regular staff has to be kept all the 



year round. 



HERTFORD. Temporary labour has declined more than the 

 resident labour, and few men now seek work at harvest ; at the 

 same time the introduction of machinery has lessened the 

 need for them. Mr. Milne observes -that the only time when 

 any quantity of casual labour is required is during the potato 

 harvest. Ten years ago the greater number required could be 

 got from the neighbouring villages, but the extra work is now 

 done by casual labourers who come round after the hop-picking 

 season is over in other places and who are put up in temporary 

 buildings for the short time the work lasts. 



MIDDLESEX. -Mr. Lobjoit writes : " It has been the practice 

 here for many years to employ women from Shropshire for the 

 fruit-picking. They come early in June and remain until 

 August. During the cherry season a good many men come 

 out of Bucks, and in the summer men also come from Beds 

 and Oxford for hoeing in the market gardens. I think all 

 these have declined in numbers in recent years in this part of 

 Middlesex." 



(b.) Counties of Norfolk, Lincoln and York (East Riding). 



NORFOLK. The advent of the self-binder has caused fewer 

 men to be required at harvest than formerly, and there are 

 now practically no immigrant labourers. 



LINCOLN. In Holland Irishmen still come for the corn 

 harvest, and it is not thought that any fewer hands are em- 

 ployed. Mr. West is of opinion that the number of labourers 

 temporarily employed has increased rather than otherwise. 

 Mr. Morton says that the decrease is not greater amongst 

 temporary labourers, but that owing to the use of self-binding 

 reapers 50 per cent, fewer men are required for harvest work. 



In Lindsey there is a division of opinion. It is agreed that 

 owing to the use of machinery far fewer hands are now required 

 at harvest, but while Major Browne thinks temporary labour 

 has decreased to a greater extent than resident labour, Mr. 

 Tindall thinks the decline is nothing like so great. The 

 extension of potato-growing has occasioned an increase of 

 temporary labour in the summer, and more especially in 

 October. 



YORK (EAST RIDING). Beyond turnip-hoeing, harvest, and 

 io a small extent potato-growing, little casual labour is re- 

 quired ; the self -binder has lessened the demand for harvesters. 



