704 Agricultural Labour during October, [nov., 



remained in their former places gained slight advances. In the North- 

 Eastern counties continued emigration, mainly to Canada, had caused 

 further shortage in the supply of both men and women servants, and 

 wages showed an upward movement. This was especially the case in 

 the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin, where in many cases men's 

 wages were advanced 205. for the half-year. 



There was generally a good demand for women servants, and in 

 the South-Eastern counties their wages showed an upward tendency. 

 (Board of Trade Labour Gazette, October, 191 1.) 



Agricultural labour 

 in England 

 during October. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have been furnished by the 

 Board of Trade with the following report, based on returns from corre- 

 spondents in various districts, on the demand 

 for agricultural labour in October : — 



There was a fair demand on the whole 

 for labourers outside the regular farm staff, 

 principally for lifting potatoes, getting- up 

 roots, threshing, spreading manure, and trimming hedges. The de- 

 mand was, however, considerably reduced in many districts on account 

 of the partial failure of the root crops, and in a number of such 

 districts there was a consequent surplus of men. Towards the end of 

 the month rain was a further cause of loss of time to extra labourers, 

 though not to any great extent. 



Northern Counties. — Rain caused a little interruption to outdoor 

 employment in the last week of October, but otherwise there was a 

 fair demand for extra labourers in most districts for such work as 

 potato-lifting, getting up the root crops, hedge-trimming, spreading 

 manure, and threshing. The supply of extra men was reported as in 

 excess of the demand in the Longtown (Cumberland) and Driffield and 

 Wath (Yorkshire) Rural Districts. 



Midland Counties. — The partial failure of the root crops reduced the 

 demand for extra labourers in these counties, and there was a conse- 

 quent surplus of men in a number of districts, including the Nantwich 

 and Tarvin (Cheshire), Hayfield (Derbyshire), Leek and Tamworth 

 (Staffordshire), Evesham (Worcestershire), Crowmarsh and Woodstock 

 (Oxfordshire), Eton (Buckinghamshire), and Luton (Bedfordshire) Rural 

 Districts. A scarcity of men for permanent situations was reported in 

 the Bucklow (Cheshire), Pershore (Worcestershire), and the Banbury 

 (Oxfordshire) Rural Districts. 



Eastern Counties. — Employment was generally regular throughout 

 the month in these counties, and there was a fairly good demand for 

 extra labourers for such work as threshing, potato-lifting, hedge-trim- 

 ming, and spreading manure. The partial failure of tho root crops, 

 however, accounted for a surplus of men in several districts in 

 Norfolk and Suffolk. 



Southern and South-Western Counties. — Outdoor work in these ! 

 counties was a little interrupted by rain in the latter part of the 

 month, and the employment of extra labourers was further reduced on 1 

 account of the forward state of farm work and the poor root crops, j 

 An excess of such men was reported in the following Rural Districts : 

 Guildford (Surrey), Westhampnett (Sussex), Fordingbridge and Havantl 



