THE COST OF LABOUR 69 



wages not having fallen with prices, labour, he thinks, is 

 at least 20 per cent, better off than in 1874. Again, 

 where labour has become more efficient, there may have 

 been some adjustment of the labour item in the cost of 

 production, but where things have remained as they were, 

 or where labour has become less efficient, it means that 

 out of the depreciated produce of the soil, a larger por- 

 tion than before has to be set aside to pay for labour.' 



This general law is amply supported and illustrated 

 by evidence and farm accounts supplied to us. 



Thus, on a typical arable farm in North Lincolnshire, 

 comparing the years 1873 to 1877, with the years 1893-94, 

 while the decrease in the values of the wheat and barley 

 produced has been 63 and 61 "6 per cent, respectively, 

 and in wool 49 per cent, the decrease in the labour 

 bill has been only 9-4 per cent.^ 



Mr Read's labour bill is practically the same as 

 twenty years ago. " Rent used to be double labour ; 

 now labour is twice the rent." 



Sir John Lawes thinks labour is the chief item in the 

 increase of the cost of production. 



Mr H. H. Scott thinks labour has become a 10 per 

 cent, larger item. 



In Scotland, Mr Hope thinks the rise in the item of 

 labour has been about 15 per cent, Mr Ferguson puts it 

 at 25 per cent., and "even this rise does not prevent the 

 best men from going off to the towns." 



Generally speaking, the evidence is uniform that 

 where farming is proceeding on the old lines, and is kept 

 up to anything like the old standards, the cost of labour 

 is either about the same, or has materially increased. 



And, even in the case of a changed system of farming, 

 there is not always a saving. Where dairy work is taken 

 up, there is- often an increase in the item of labour, as 

 skilled men and women are wanted, and in stock 

 farming also. 



The same is stated even as regards machinery. 

 Machinery makes production easier and saves time, but 

 higher wages are paid to skilled labour. Mr Dewar, on 



1 Giffen, 18,084, 18,118, 18,156. ^ wilson Fox, Line, p. 46. 



