1922.] Conciliation Committees in Agriculture. 485 



containing particulars of the weather forecasts which are 

 broadcast daily by wireless by the ]V[inistry. The most 

 valuable of these for agriculturists are : (1) a general forecast 

 for the whole country, issued in plain language at 9.50 a.m. 

 and 9.50 p.m.; and (2) forecasts for each of seven areas of 

 Great Britain separately, issued in code three times daily. A 

 key to the code used is given in the pamphlet. 



Farmers would find both these valuable, especially at har- 

 vest time. The latter, which can be received and decoded in 

 a quarter of an hour, is a forecast for the particular area drawn 

 up a few minutes earlier by a professional forecaster with full 

 information at his disposal. 



The apparatus required for receiving the messages is de- 

 scribed. A set complete costs about £30, but a user with 

 knowledge of wireless apparatus can construct one from parts 

 at a much lower cost. There are probably, however, in most 

 neighbourhoods amateur wireless operators, some of whom 

 would be glad to ' * listen in ' ' for the information at the proper 

 times, decode the messages and make them known locally by 

 arrangement. 



* ^ ^ ^(f ^ ^ 



Further wages agreements have been made by Conciliation 

 Committees during the past month, and the total number in 



^^n:^*:^-. Operation has now increased to 49. 

 Conciliation t tt j. i. j.- ^^ 



Committees in Kent, where negotiations were some- 



A 'piiltiiTA what protracted, the Committee has re- 

 cently reached the following agreement : — 

 (1) Basic rate of wages for ordinary farm workers of 30s. for 

 50 hours guaranteed; (2) the recognised working week shall 

 consist of 54 hours: overtime (i.e., after 54 hours) worked at 

 the request of the employer and Sunday labour at 8d. per hour. 

 The agreement operates until the 7th October. 



The Committee for the Holland Division of Lincolnshire has 

 extended its previous agreement until the 31st October. The 

 terms of the agreement provide for the payment of 8d. per 

 hour for all hours worked by adult male workers. The settle- 

 ment of the Rutland Committee makes provision for the pay- 

 ment of 30s. for a week of 50 hours up to the 28th October, 

 to all male workers over 21 years. 



In North Berkshire, where previous negotiations between 

 the two sides had failed to solve the wages difficulty an agree- 

 ment has now been reached to extend up to the 30th Septem- 

 ber. The terms mutually agreed upon are for the payment of 



