1907.] Rental of Farms in Scotland. 



43i 



Returns have also been received from 174 correspondents 

 in England which afford some indication of the course of agri- 

 cultural wages in the present year. The returns give a com- 

 parative statement of the rates of wages most generally paid 

 to ordinary agricultural labourers in June, 1907 and 1906, in 

 the Poor Law Unions in which the correspondents reside. 

 Of the 174 returns, 161 show no change between the two periods, 

 7 show an upward tendency, and 6 a downward tendency 

 (5 from Southern Counties). 



Scotland. — Information as to the rates of wages agreed upon 

 at hiring fairs in Scotland was obtained by the Department 

 from, a correspondent who made special inquiries on the 

 subject. 



The correspondent reported that at the hirings held in 1906 

 wages of male farm servants varied but slightly compared 

 with those agreed upon at the corresponding hirings of 1905. 

 There was, however, a downward tendency in a few districts 

 in the north, north-east, and centre, though the reduction in 

 wages applied chiefly to some of the men who changed situa- 

 tions. Men who remained in their old places generally obtained 

 the rates of wages previously paid. In no part of the country 

 was there any serious scarcity of men, and the hirings were 

 generally fairly well attended. Women remained scarce, 

 however, and their wages firm, in some cases showing an up- 

 ward tendency. Men with wives, or other women workers 

 in their families, were always in good demand. In some 

 districts of Ayrshire the long continued scarcity of dairymaids 

 has led to men being more largely employed in cheese-making. 



A return (H.C. 127) has been presented to the House of 

 Commons showing the number of occupiers of farms (whether 

 owners or tenants), in each county and 

 Rental of Farms in parish in Scotland, with the gross rental 

 Scotland. according to the valuation roll, for the 



year ending at Whitsunday, 1906 : — 

 An explanatory note prefacing the return states that it 

 includes (1) occupiers of lands used for any farming purposes, 

 whether with or without a house ; (2) occupiers of glebe used 



