Tlic Labour Bill in Farminc/. 
(rs. 6rf. to 85. 6rf. weekly. These places arc in closely-packed 
ueighbourlioods, where the clouds are only to be seen as you put 
your head out of the window. A labourer with 21s. per week, 
and two children, must pay for one front room 4s. per week — 
lOZ. 8s. per annum. The washing and all domestic things must 
be done in one room, and the clothes dried there. Again, sup- 
pose—which is often the case — a drunken, noisy family is living 
in the room above and keeps late hours. A man goes home 
tired to his room, wanting sleep. He will soon wish himself 
back in the country. In some places there is only one closet for 
live or six families, some of whom are very dirty people." In 
iinother letter the writer says : — " Not one poor person out of six 
has a cooking stove. The meat must be boiled or sent to the 
bakehouse. V ery few mechanics have more than two rooms ; 
to have three rooms, a man must be very careful and steadv. 
Taking all things, I think London is cheaper than the countrv 
for living (food). But a London labourer has no garden to grow 
vegetables. All must be bought." 
Is it not clear, then, that wages which in large towns are 
liigher in money, but subject to deduction for higher rent, are in 
the country really supplemented by the difference, whatever it 
may be, between fair letting value represented by cost and actual 
rental of cottage and garden ? Whether the farmer or the land- 
lord makes this contribution to wages, or whether it is a joint 
cxintribution by both, will depend upon the agreement subsisting 
l>etween them as to cottage building or letting ; but this question 
is one which affects only themselves. The benefit derived bv 
the labourer in respect of rental is in no way touched by the 
relations between landowner and farmer. 
The system is so general and so deeply rooted that one has 
faint hopes of seeing it changed. But both in theorv and in 
practice it appears indefensible. The labourer is seldom conscious 
that in fact fie receives an addition to his weekly wages, in the 
shape of deductions from rent, even when he pays a weekly rent 
for his cottage. In one instance the fact was brought to his 
)onowledge in a very homely but forcible fashion. »The story 
will bear repeating. It is told of an East Anglian rector, who, 
when in his parish the labourers, living for the most part in 
ander-rented cottages, were complaining of low wages, had this 
dialogue with his gardener, perliaps with a view to teach others 
by ('xam])Ie : — " Let me see, .John ; what wages are you getting? " 
"Eighteen shillings a week, sir." "Are you satisfied with 
your wages ? " " Y'es, sir, quite satisfied." " Very well, John ; 
tlien I shall raise them 3s. a week, and give you a guinea." 
John was overcome with gratitude. "Oh! thank you very 
much, indeed, sir I Thank you I " " Ves, but John, I shall 
