486 



The Agricultural Index Number. [Sept., 



a rate of 30s. for a week of 50 hours, with 8d. per hour for all 

 overtime. 



In addition, the following harvest agreements have been 

 made by the Norfolk and Suffolk Committees : — 



Norfolk: During harvest, 1922: — A lump sum 'of £10^ to be paid: the 

 system of working by the harvest or by the month to be as 

 hitherto, or by mutual agreement between employer and 

 workers. Where the harvest is worked by the month it is 

 to be understood that the same appUes to 24 consecutive 

 working days — hours not to exceed 70 per week. 

 Boys to receive proportionate rates. 



Suffolk: During harvest, 1922: — (a) A weekly wage of 7fd. per hour up 

 to 50 hours ; (h) a bonus of £4 10s. in addition on completion 

 of harvest ; (c) the agreement to cover a harvest of 24 days 

 comprising 11 hours per day during cutting and 12 hours per 

 day during carting : (d) if the nature of the crops makes it 

 necessary to arrange special terms, provided such terms are 

 mutually agreed, such agreement will not be prejudiced by 

 this agreement. 



Particulars of the agreements in any area can be obtained 

 on application to the Ministry. 



****** 



The index numbers of prices of agricultural produce in England 

 and Wales indicate that, as compared with the average of the 



The A ricultural ^^^'^'^^P^^^^^S month of the years 1911 to 

 e gricu ura -j^g-j^g prices in Julv were srenerally higher 

 Index Number. . , . % ^, - ^ ^ 



than m June. The average mcrease as com- 

 pared with the pre-war years was 72 per cent, in July against 

 an increase of 68 per cent, in June. The following table shows 

 the general increases since the beginning of 1921 : — 



Peecentage Increase as compared with the Average Prices 



IN THE corresponding MoNTHS OF 1911-13. 



Month 



1921 



1922 



January 



183 



75 



Februar}^ 



167 



79 



March 



150 



77 



April... 



149 



70 



May 



119 



71 



June ... 



112 



68 



July 



112 



72 



August 



131 





September ... 



116 





October 



86 





November 



79 





December 



76 





Fat cattle were very slightly cheaper in July than in June, 

 and fat sheep continued the fall recorded in the previous month's 

 figures. A seasonal fall in sheep prices normally occurs in the 

 late spring and early summer, and the decline indicated by the 

 index numbers does not fully reflect the decrease in prices which 



