1909.] Agricultural Labour in England. 



225 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have been furnished by the 

 Board of Trade with the following- report, based on about 210 returns 

 from correspondents in various districts, on 

 Agricultural Labour the demand for agricultural labour in May. 

 in England Agricultural Labourers. — Employment was 



during May. regular on the whole during May, although 



some day labourers in certain districts lost a 

 little time during the month. The supply of such men was in general 

 about equal to the demand. 



Northern Counties. — According to reports from Northumberland, 

 Cumberland, and Westmorland, employment was generally regular 

 during May, but the supply of day labourers was rather in excess of 

 the demand in some districts, work being well forward. Men and boys 

 were plentiful at the half-yearly hirings, and wages showed a downward 

 tendency. Regularity of employment was reported from Lancashire, 

 the supply of day labourers being about equal to the demand. In 

 Yorkshire agricultural labourers are said to have been fully employed in 

 most districts, although some day labourers lost a little time through 

 rain. 



Midland Counties. — Correspondents in Cheshire and Derbyshire state 

 that potato planting, turnip hoeing, and other work afforded regular 

 employment during May. In Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire 

 hoeing was somewhat hindered at the beginning of the month, owing 

 to the backward state of the crops during the dry weather. Some 

 difficulty was reported in obtaining capable men for permanent situa- 

 tions. Day labourers in Staffordshire were generally well employed in 

 planting potatoes, preparing the ground for root crops and other spring 

 work, and in the Leek Union the demand is said to have been somewhat 

 greater than the supply. There was a fair demand for extra labourers 

 in Shropshire. Regularity of employment is reported from Worcester- 

 shire and Warwickshire, hoeing corn and planting potatoes affording a 

 good deal of work for day labourers. Men for tending cattle and horses 

 were said to be in request in certain districts. Owing to the favourable 

 weather agricultural labourers in Northamptonshire were regularly 

 employed. The supply of extra men was about equal to the demand, 

 but difficulty is reported in obtaining men for permanent situations. 

 Employment in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire was fairly regular 

 during May. The supply of day labourers was in several districts in 

 excess of the demand. Correspondents in Hertfordshire and Bedford- 

 shire state that the weather was favourable for work on the land, and 

 in several districts day labourers were in demand for hoeing. 



Eastern Counties. — Agricultural employment in Huntingdonshire 

 and Cambridgeshire was interrupted for one or two days by rain. The 

 supply of extra men was sufficient in most districts. Regularity of 

 employment is reported in Lincolnshire, day labourers finding a good 

 deal of work in weeding the corn, hoeing peas, and planting potatoes. 

 At the May hirings some men did not secure engagements, and wages 

 showed a tendency to fall. The demand for lads, however, was in 

 excess of the supply. In Norfolk and Suffolk day labourers were 

 regularly employed, the supply being about equal to the demand in 

 most districts reported on. Employment has been good with farm 



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