1 9 o3.] 



Notes on Weather. 



63 



(Cumberland) reports that men for permanent situations were plentiful. 

 Employment was fairly regular in Lancashire and Yorkshire, but the in- 

 clement weather somewhat affected outdoor work at the commencement 

 of March. Day labourers were employed in threshing, potato sorting and 

 hedging. In the Bridlington Union (Yorkshire) day labourers were scarce 

 owing to public works in the district. 



Midland Counties. — In Cheshire and Derbyshire rain interfered with out- 

 door work to some extent, but employment was plentiful. In Nottingham- 

 shire threshing, hedging and ditching afforded fair employment to day 

 labourers, and the supply of this class of men was equal to the demand. 

 In the Basford Union a scarcity of men for permanent situations was reported. 

 Employment was fair generally in Leicestershire, but wet weather in the latter 

 part of the month caused some day labourers to lose time. In the Melton 

 Mowbray Union the supply of men for permanent situations was reported 

 to be short of the demand. In Staffordshire and Shropshire work was plentiful, 

 but wet weather caused some loss of time. The supply of da3* labourers was 

 equal to requirements. In Worcestershire and Warwickshire little time was 

 lost, and day labourers were fairly well employed in threshing, hedging and 

 ditching and assisting to feed stock. A scarcity of men to attend on stock was 

 reported from the Shipston Union (Worcestershire). In Northamptonshire, 

 Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire the wet weather adversely affected employ- 

 ment, and some time was lost on outdoor work. Generally speaking there 

 was not much demand for day labourers. The same conditions were reported 

 with regard to Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. 



Eastern Counties. — In Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire wet weather 

 hindered the sowing of spring corn and other outdoor work. The supply of 

 day labourers was generally adequate. Work was plentiful in Lincolnshire , 

 and in some Unions a scarcity of day labourers was reported. A full supply . 

 of men engaging for permanent situations at. May-day was reported from 

 the Grimsby Union. In Norfolk the supply of day labourers was about equal , f 

 to the demand, and employment was not greatly interfered with by wet 

 weather. In Suffolk and Essex outdoor work was somewhat hindered by 

 the stormy weather, and day labourers were not in much demand. The 

 supply of men for permanent situations was generally sufficient. 



Southern and South-Western Counties. — Correspondents in Kent report 

 that regular men were in fairly constant employment, but that day labourers 

 lost a little time owing to the rain. The supply of the latter class of labour 

 was in excess of requirements. In Surrey and Sussex similar conditions were 

 reported. A scarcity of men for situations as carters and stockmen was ; 

 reported from certain Unions. The unsettled weather caused some loss of time ; 

 in Hampshire and Berkshire, where extra men were not much in demand. A 

 scarcity of men for permanent situations was reported in the Andover Union. 

 Employment in Wiltshire was fair on the whole, and day labourers were 

 employed in threshing, ground dressing, hedging and ditching. A scarcity 

 of men for tending stock was reported in the Mere and Chippenham Unions. 

 In Dorsetshire wet weather delayed threshing and spring sowings to some 

 extent, but day labourers were fairly well employed. In Somersetshire 

 employment was fairly regular, and the supply of day labourers was adequate. 

 In Herefordshire and Gloucestershire some little time was lost through 

 rain, and the demand for day labourers was moderate. Some scarcity 

 of men for permanent situations was reported from Devonshire. Day labourers 

 were fairly well employed, and the supply was rather better than a year ago. 

 In Cornwall the supply of labour was generally equal to requirements. 

 In both counties some time was lost through wet weather. 



