1908.] Agricultural Labour in England, 703; 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have been furnished 

 by the Board of Trade with the following report, based on 

 Agricultural Labour about 210 returns from correspondents in 

 in England various districts on the demand for 

 during November, agricultural labour in November : — 



Employment was generally regular throughout November. The supply of extra 

 labour, however, was more than sufficient for the demand in a number of districts,, 

 and a number of men lost time in consequence, particularly towards the end of the 

 month, when farm work became well forward. 



Northern Counties. — Employment was generally regular in Northumberland y 

 Durham, Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire. It was stated that men were 

 in excess of the demand at the Martinmas Hirings in Cumberland, Westmorland and 

 North Lancashire, and reductions in wages were reported. There was a fairly 

 good demand for extra labour in Yorkshire for threshing, work on the potato and root 

 crops, and in sheep folds and stockyards. There was some surplus of men at the 

 hirings in this county, and while previous rates of wages were generally maintained, 

 wages for inferior labour showed a downward tendency. 



Midland Counties. — A little interruption to employment from bad weather was- 

 reported in Cheshire. There was a plentiful supply of extra labour in this county, but 

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

 Threshing and taking up potatoes and root crops provided a fair amount of employ- 

 ment in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, but the supply of day labourers was some- 

 what in excess of the demand. Employment was generally regular in Leicestershire, 

 with a fair supply of extra labour. There was, however, some scarcity of men for 

 permanent situations. Continued fine weather permitted constant employment for 

 day labourers in Staffordshire, but the supply was ample, one correspondent stating 

 that he had not seen so many men seeking work for a considerable time. In Shrop- 

 shire threshing and root storing caused a good demand for extra labour. There was 

 a moderate demand for day labourers in Worcestershire and Warwickshire, but the 

 supply was generally about sufficient. Some scarcity of men for permanent situations 

 was reported in Worcestershire. A good demand for extra labour was reported 

 from Northamptonshire , on account of threshing and root lifting. Men for milking; 

 and for tending stock were in request. There was generally regularity of employment 

 in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, but a few day labourers were in irregular work. 

 Threshing, root lifting and manure carting rendered employment fairly good in. 

 Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. 



Eastern Counties. — There was generally a fair demand for day labourers in 

 Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire, and the supply was in most districts quite- 

 sufficient. Little or no irregularity of employment was reported from Lincolnshire ;. 

 in certain districts, however, on account of the forward condition of threshing, there 

 was some decline in the demand for extra labour. Threshing, and work on the root 

 crops generally, provided regular employment in Norfolk ; the supply of day labourers- 

 was ample as a rule, but some scarcity was reported from the Loddon and Clavering 

 Union. In Suffolk and Essex, the forward state of out- door work somewhat affected 

 the demand for day labourers, and there was a consequent surplus in several districts. 



Southern and South Western Counties. — Employment was fairly regular in Kent, 

 but the demand for day labourers fell off towards the end of the month, and some- 

 men of this class were in irregular work. Storing mangels, spreading manure, trim- 

 ming hedges, &c, caused a fair demand for day labourers in Surrey and Sussex, bu 

 the supply was somewhat in excess of the demand. Some day labourers were in- 

 irregular employment in Hampshire on account of an insufficient demand. In Berk- 

 shire employment was generally regular, with the supply of and demand for labour 

 about equal. There was a fairly good demand for extra men in Wiltshire, but in* 



