12G THE RURAL PROBLEM 



sum at the end of the corn harvest. When this is done the 

 aggregate for both harvests varies from 25s. to £-1. 



It is still more difficult to ascertain what extra is earned by 

 piece-work being substituted for day-work at certain seasons of 

 the year. The men say that if more is earned it is only by 

 working longer hours, and in the main I think this is true. Of 

 course, they get nothing if the weather is such that they are unable 

 to work. 



After collecting all the information I could — from the farmers 

 as well as from the labourers — I think that the " extra earnings " 

 of the ordinary labourer from all sources — hay and corn harvest, 

 piece-work, overtime, etc. — seldom exceed £5 per annum. 



Carters, stockmen and shepherds are better paid but have some 

 Sunday work, and their usual hours of labour are longer than 

 those of the ordinary farm labourers. Their wages vary from 

 13s. to 17s. per week, and in most cases a cottage is found for 

 them rent free. 



Shepherds are usually allowed extra pay, and sometimes fuel 

 during the lambing and shearing seasons. 



Cowmen are allowed milk all the year round. 



Carters earn extra money at harvest time, the amount being 

 very much the same as that paid to the ordinary labourers on 

 the same farm. 



It is safe to say that the average earnings of a carter, shepherd 

 or stockman of average ability are not less than 14s. per week 

 with a cottage, or 16s. per week without one. 



General Remarks. — While making this inquiry, I found myself 

 continually wondering whether and to what extent the drift of 

 the best workers to the towns or abroad, coupled with the low 

 standard of living in the villages, has lessened the efficiency of 

 the farm labourers in Oxfordshire. Two Conservative farmers 

 have told me that Oxfordshire labourers at 12s. per week are more 

 expensive than the labourers they had paid 15s. per week else- 

 where, and although neither of them took kindly to my suggestion 

 that they should try the experiment of paying 15s. per week in 

 Oxfordshire, it is probable that there is an element of truth in 

 their statement. 



