TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 879 
4, Farm Labour Colonies and: Poor Law Guardians. 
By Haroxtp E. Moors, F.S.1. 
With the experience now gained it is possible to divide Farm Labour Colonies 
into two distinct classes. The first may be considered to be colonies for the reception 
of well-conducted men of the working classes temporarily out of employment, 
These colonies can be made self-supporting if managed under proper conditions, as 
appears from the evidence collected by Mr. W. Mather, then M.P. for the Gorton 
division of Lancashire, and placed before the Parliamentary Committee on the 
Unemployed, in the scheme which that gentleman advocated for the foundation of 
éolonies for this class from national resources. 
The second class of colonies may be considered to be those for the reception of 
men who would otherwise be in the casual wards or inmates of workhouses. This 
kind of colony must be worked either by Boards of Guardians or in close connection 
with the same. The advantages claimed for such colonies are the reduction in cost 
of Poor Law Relief, and the giving of more hope to those engaged than if they 
were employed in other classes of forced labour. Old enactments not yet repealed 
give Boards of Guardians power to take land not exceeding fifty acres for each 
parish and to pay wages for working the same. At the time of passing the Poor 
Law Act of 1834 many such farms were in operation. To continue this class of 
work was, however, contrary to the spirit of that Act, and has been discouraged. 
In 1894, however, the Local Government Board consented to consider any 
schemes submitted by Guardians for providing employment on land. The 
proposals made by various Boards seem to have been either (a) to allow part of 
the cost of men sent to colonies under private control to be paid by Guardians; or 
(4) to sanction acquirement of land to be worked by paid labour; or (c) to permit 
the acquirement of small areas mainly for purposes of test work. The first-named 
proposition has been approved, the second rejected, and the third has received 
favourable consideration. 
These decisions of the Local Government Board seem to have been generally 
prudent, for if land is to be worked for the class named it must be (a) largely 
waste land, to admit of the employment of intermittent and unskilled labour 3; (4) 
not of such a size as to involve usual farm risks; (c) used only for growth of such 
crops as can be consumed in the workhouses or by the men employed; (@) 
managed on a system giving a reward for labour on the basis of piece-work. The 
experience quoted showed if these considerations were adhered to the cost of Poor 
Relief would be lessened with benefit to the men helped. More especially has this 
been the case where assistance of Guardians has been in the nature of a subsidy to 
colonies carried on by voluntary committees. An extension of this system can, 
therefore be recommended, especially in view of the recommendations of the 
Parliamentary Report on the Unemployed, published in July 1896. 
5. Raffeisen Village Banks in Germany. 
Ly Professor W. B. Borromuey. 
6. The Decay of British Agriculture : its Causes and Cure. 
Sy Cuaries Rintout. 
The decay of agriculture may be attributed to the abolition of the Corn Laws in 
1846, which Act was a security to the farmer for the safe investment of his capital 
and labour in producing food for the nation. This did not immediately follow, as 
trade and manufacture, which were languishing under the Corn Laws, became 
very prosperous, together with several other reasons, but as soon as the prairie 
lands of virgin soil abroad were broken up and reaped with the labour-saving 
string-binder, and produce sent into this country at very low freights, the exhausted 
and clay lands, which then could not compete, began to become derelict. Large 
tracts are thrown out of cultivation, and labourers who formerly produced food . 
