92 



Temporary 



and 



Migratory 

 Labour. 



(b.) Comities of Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. 



SOMERSET. The use of machinery is thought to have had a 

 greater effect on the temporary than on the permanent labour. 

 The migratory labourers from Devonshire and Ireland who used 

 to come for harvesting are (according to Mr. Gibbons) never 

 seen now; when extra labourers are required in the summer 

 it is a matter of difficulty to obtain them. 



DORSET. Labourers temporarily, employed are believed to 

 have declined to a greater extent than the resident population, 

 owing to the largely increased use of machinery. 



DE,VON. In the north of the county few extra labourers are 

 employed. In the south, Mr. Chamier (Exmouth) thinks that 

 the decline has been greater, while Mr. Franklin (Cullompton) 

 considers it has been less, in the case of temporary labour than 

 in the resident population. 



CORNWALL. Casual labour has declined to an even greater 

 extent than the permanent labour. Improved machinery now 

 enables the farmers to do their harvesting with the ordinary 

 staff. Mr. Richards writes : " Casual labourers are most diffi- 

 cult to obtain. Many small farmers have consequently had to 

 make a large capital outlay on self-binders and other expensive 

 implements." 



DIVISION IV. 



(a.) Counties of Northumberland^ Durham, York (Xort/i Riding) 

 and York ( West Riding). 



NORTHUMBERLAND. The corn harvest was formerly the prin- 

 cipal occasion of the employment of temporary labour. IN^ow, 

 however, owing to diminished cultivation and the introduction 

 of the self-binder, the demand for harvesters has very largely 

 fallen off, probably to an even greater extent than with the 

 resident labourers. Mr. Marshall writes : "In this part of the 

 Tyne valley, where the corn area is practically the same as it 

 was fifty years since, 40, 50, or 60 people might at that time be 

 seen reaping; twenty years ago two reaping machines with 

 20 hands were doing as much; now two binders with half-a- 

 dozen men accomplish the same work. Perhaps (he adds) more 

 haymeu and turnip-hoers are needed." 



DURHAM. Temporary labour has declined in proportion to 

 the smaller extent of crops grown, and possibly also on account 

 of the use of improved machinery for harvesting, potato- 

 digging, &c. On the other hand, it is remarked that resident 

 labour has been so severely cut out that temporary labour may 

 have declined either not at all or to a smaller extent than the 

 former. 



