The agricultural labourer (Denton)/Appendix
APPENDIX.
Appendix I.
At a conference of noblemen and gentlemen, of various shades of political opinion, which took place on Saturday, March 21st, at Willis's Rooms, to consider the present conditions of the agricultural labourers of England, the following questions formed the basis of discussions which took place: Whet are the causes of the unsatisfactory condition of the agricultural labourer? What are the best means calculated to improve that condition? If by the formation of a society, then upon what plan should such society be constituted, and what steps should be taken to form it? Canon Girdlestone advocated the formation of a public society, by the organised aid of which the labourers might be elevated to the position which they ought to hold. He wished the union or society simply to be a defensive and protective society. He wished to say that he strongly guarded himself against being the instigator of aggression by agricultural labourers either against their employers or their fellow workmen, if the latter might not happen to accord in their particular views. What they sought for was free trade in labour, that every agricultural labourer should have the privilege of taking his labour to the market where he could best dispose of it, and that he should receive such a rate of wages as the character of his labour might command. He moved the follow resolutions:
"1.—It is the opinion of this meeting that in many parts of the country the condition of the agricultural labourer, as regards wages, treatment, house room, and opportunities for acquiring information and manual skill, is such as demands serious and immediate attention.
"2.—That as one means of raising the agricultural labourer from his present depressed condition, it is desirable to encourage and assist the formation of agricultural labourers' district protection societies.
"3.—That these societies shall be in principle and operations strictly defensive, and carefully guarded against all possibility of aggression either on employers or fellow-workmen, and that their chief object shall be to secure a fair day's wages for a fair day's work, in proportion to skill, ability, and industry.
"4.—That the committee be at once appointed to manage the details to be employed in forming the above societies and to direct and superintend the work, to draw up a code of rules, and to promote in all possible ways both the physical and moral improvement of the agricultural labourer.
"5.—That those interested in the improvement of the condition of the agricultural labourer be earnestly requested at once to provide a fund for the payment of the salaries of the organising agents, and all other expenses incurred in carrying out the proposed object"
Mr. Fawcett, M.P., moved a rider to the resolution, to the effect "That in the opinion of this conference the condition of agricultural labourers will continue to be depressed and unsatisfactory until their education is secured by compelling their children under thirteen years of age to attend school so many hours a week."
Mr. Fawcett's proposition was supported by the Marquis Townshend, who thought, however, some immediate means of ameliorating the condition of the agricultural labourers should be adopted.—A lengthened discussion ensued, in which Lord Northbrook, Mr. Read, M.P., Lord Lichfield, the Hon. A. Herbert, Mr. G. Potter, Mr. Lloyd Jones, and other speakers took part.—The resolutions were then passed with some verbal alterations, the most important of which was the substitution of "unions" for "societies" in the third and fourth.—The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.
APPENDIX II
The following graphic description of the Sharing Out Clubs is from the pen of the Rev. J. Y. Stratton:
"If such is the evil case of societies which are recognised and protected by the law, what shall be said of the 'Brummagem' or 'Sharing Out Clubs,' which are supposed greatly to outnumber the certified societies, and which, from the terms of their constitution, cannot have their rules certified to be in conformity with the law?
"In almost every parish one or more of these clubs (Sharing Out Clubs) will be found, the management of which is usually in the hands of the landlord of the public-house or beer-shop. The Sharing Out Club is formed on the principle that a halfpenny a week from each member will secure a shilling a week for each sick member for a term, which (independently of all further calculation) is sometimes three, sometimes six months. When this term is expired a similar one commences, during which half the amount only is payable, which is in turn succeeded by a superannuation pay, of which more anon. An extra levy is made in case of the death of a member, or member's wife, or child. All the members pay alike, and each one on joining the club makes a verbal declaration that he is in sound health and of good constitution, or states truly and plainly whether he is more than ordinarily liable to sickness or disease. If his statement is false, he runs his own risk, and on the discovery—which continuance in the club would not fail to make—he is expelled, and forfeits all his contributions. The clever but unscrupulous device of the annual dissolution of the club deserves notice. This Phœnix of the taproom—the Benefit Society, so called—dies once a year, usually on the first Monday in May, and forthwith arises from its tobacco ashes with new plumage, destined for a speedy plucking. By means of its annual rejuvenescence, it contrives to free itself of old or burdensome members, who are left to the care of the poor-rate. The poor-rate is, in truth, the virtual superannuation pay of these clubs; and hence the device of the annual dissolution. When a member becomes so infirm as to render him a greater burden than can be conveniently borne, he is reminded that outdoor relief at 2s. 6d. is a better thing than superannuation at 1s. 8d. The advantage of his leaving the club is obvious, and he goes, generally with a good grace, 'to relieve the club and better himself.' He oftentimes receives a donation from the 'sharing out' proceeds; but, whether he likes it or not, he will be passed over in the new list of members for the year ensuing.
"In the course of the last Session the Earl of Lichfield moved for a return of the number of paupers, in Union Workhouses in England and Wales, who had formerly been members of benefit societies. The return was obtained for the last week in August when the numbers were reported to be 4015. By the kindness of Mr. Owen, of the Poor Law Board, we are enabled to state that the number of male paupers in the Workhouses at that time was 32,497; whence it appears that about 12 per cent. of such inmates were formerly in friendly societies. At first the proportion does not seem to be large; but when it is considered that the workhouse is the refuge of destitute infirm persons, whose constitutions, and also of the idle and vicious whose characters, would alike debar them from admittance to such societies, the percentage will be thought a high one. At the same time we believe that if returns were forthcoming of the number of outdoor paupers formerly in benefit societies, a much higher percentage would be the result. Of all these poor men, there is but too much reason to conclude that had the money wasted by them in insolvent or fraudulent clubs been properly applied, they would at this moment have been in the receipt of a sufficient sum to raise them above pauperism, unless in those case of exceptional distress in which help, whether from poor-rate or parish charities, entails no moral degradation."
APPENDIX III.
The following statement explains the System of Industrial Partnership, adopted by Henry Briggs, Son, and Company, at the Whitwood and Methley Junction Collieries, near Normanton, Yorkshire, and is given here as it has been argued that a similar system of co-operation might be adopted in farming.
Until the 1st of July, 1865, the Whitwood and Methley Junction Collieries were worked as a private enterprise by the firm of Henry Briggs, Son, and Company. For several years previous to that date, the regular working of the collieries, and the legitimate profits derivable therefrom, had been most seriously interfered with by the occurrence of frequent and lengthened strikes among the workman. These unhappy differences became at length so serious, that the proprietors determined to register their company under the Act of 1862, "with the primary view" (as was stated in a prospectus issued during the month of November, 1864) "of securing the co-operation of all connected with the collieries, either as managers and working-people, or as customers; in the earnest hope of thus effecting a satisfactory solution of the difficult problem, now so largely occupying the attention of political economist and philanthropists, namely, the best mode of associating capital and labour, and of preventing the occurrence of those trade disputes which so frequently disturb the social relations of our country."
After mentioning that the valuation of the property would not exceed the sum at which it stood in the books of the firm, it was further stated in the prospectus that the members of that firm would retain at least two-thirds of the share capital and, "that in allotting the remaining one-third, they would give a decided preference to applications for shares—first, from the officials and operatives employed in the business; secondly, from the purchasers of the produce of the collieries." The amount of the shares was fixed at 15l., with 10l. called up, and the most novel feature of the proposed undertaking was introduced by the following clause:
"In order, however, to associate capital and labour still more intimately, the founders of the company will recommend to the shareholders, that whenever the divisible profits accruing from the business shall (after the usual reservation for redemption of capital and other legitimate allowances) exceed 10 per cent. on the capital embarked, all those employed by the company, whether as managers or agents, at fixed salaries, or as workpeople, shall receive one-half of such excess profit as a bonus, to be distributed amongst them in proportion to their respective earnings faring the year in which such profits shall have accrued." It was added, that the acting partners of the existing firm would retain the management of business, each share carrying one vote; also, that facilities would be afforded to the workpeople for the gradual purchase of shares by weekly instalments.
Thus the scheme was inaugurated. When first proposed to the workmen they received it with enthusiasm, and everything seemed likely to proceed as well as could he wished. Soon, however, doubts began to arise in their minds, promoted in the first instance by the paid agents and lecturers of the miners' trades unions who began to fear that if the co-operative company succeeded, strikes would cease, and their employment come to an end. Thus a large portion of the workmen put no faith in the good intentions of the founders of the company. Then were, however, notable exceptions to this rule. From the very first, a small band of steady and thoughtful men (some of whom had been bitter opponents of their employers in previous disputes rallied round them. Some of them paid up for shares at once, whilst others formed share-clubs, whereby each member, by payment of 1s. 3d. per week, could eventually become a shareholder.
In order to point out, in greater detail, the various methods whereby the miners might assist to insure the profitable working of the undertaking in which they were invited to co-operate, the managing partner of the firm issued an address to the workmen during the month of May, 1865, from which the following is extracted:
TO THE WORKMEN EMPLOYED AT WHITWOOD AND METHLEY JUNCTION COLLIERIES.
It must be well known to all of you that the owners of the above-named colleries have recently come to the important decision of transferring them to a Limited Liability Company on 1st of July next. This step is one which is important to you who are employed at the collieries, as well as to us who have provided the capital necessary to bring them into operation, because the principal object we have had in taking this step has been the enabling of you all to obtain a direct interest in the prosperity of the undertaking in which we as capitalists and you as workmen are engaged.
It has been a source of regret and some disappointment to us that notwithstanding our endeavour to place our plan before you in the clearest light, and to arrange the working of the company on principles the fairest and moat advantageous to you as workmen, we have not been able to induce very many of you to take advantage of the great and unprecedented opportunity offered to you. This must have arisen in great measure from your having failed thoroughly to understand our proposal. I therefore now address to you some remarks on the subject, in such a form that each of you may at his leisure read over, study, and thoroughly understand the plan we have resolved to adopt.
As we have already stated in our prospectus, we intend to admit as shareholders in the company—first, any or all of those employed by us, and secondly, any or all of those who are accustomed to buy produce of our collieries. In fact, we wish to adopt a principal of working so thoroughly co-operative, that if fully carried out the strikes and locks-out now so prevalent in all trades, and which all respectable workmen and kind-hearted employers must alike deplore, will be rendered impossible for the future. In order to do this, we not only allow our workmen to become shareholders in our undertaking on the same terms, in proportion to the relative amounts of capital, as ourselves, but we recommend that whenever the divisible profits of the business shall (after making due allowance for restoration of capital, andother legitimate purposes) exceed 10 per cant upon the capital embarked, all those employed by the company, whether as managers, agents, or workmen, shall receive one-half of excess of profits, as a percentage on the amount of their earnings during the year in which the profit shall have arisen. This proposal having been duly laid before a meeting of working shareholders held at Methley Junction on the 22nd of March 1865, it was then agreed to try the plan for the year ending June 30th, 1866, upon the conditions laid down in the following rules. You will observe that it has with justice been considered as but fair that those workmen who have by taking shares joined in some degree in the risks of the undertaking, should receive some preference in the distribution of the hoped-for bonus over those who have not thought proper in any degree to identify themselves with the project.
RULES.
1. Each man or boy receiving weekly wages for day of contract work shall obtain from the colliery office, at his own cost, a book wherein shall be entered from his wage-notes, by a clerk appointed for the purpose, the amount of wages earned by him.
2. In case of two or more men or boys being paid together, and their joint wages entered in one note, such man or boys shall apportion the amount due to each before bringing the note to the office for entry of the amounts in their respective books.
3. Attendance will be given on alternate Saturdays, between the hours of one and four, at Whitwood and Methley Junction, at offices appointed for the purpose, at which time all men who wish to participate in any bonus that may be earned must bring their respective wage-notes and books to such offices for examination and entry not less frequently than once each calendar month.
4. Any man failing to bring his book and wage-notes to the above-named offices for more than four weeks from the date of any such notes, will not be entitled to have his earnings entered among the sums on which a bonus may become payable.
5. If during the twelve months ending on the 30th of June in each year that the co-operative system is continued the profits realised by the company prove sufficient to admit of the payment of a bonus to workers, such bonus will be paid as a percentage on the wages earned during the same period, but no person who may have earned wages paid weekly will be entitled to receive any part of such bonus unless his wage-book, entered in accordance with the rules 3 and 4, is left for examination at one of the above-named offices on or before the 15th of July in each year.
6. In distributing any bonus that may be divisible at the termination of any year, the directors of the company retain the power of forming a bonus reserve fund, and from time to time of varying the amount of such fund, for the purpose of equalising the amount of bonus payable, also of giving a preference bonus on their earnings to such workmen as may have paid up the sum of ten pounds on any share in the company. For the year ending June 30th, 1867, and until further notice, shareholders conforming to these rules will be entitled to receive one-half larger proportion of any bonus that may be declared than similarly qualified non-shareholders.
7. Any man or boy who loses or destroys his wage-book will be liable to pay double price for any new book and for the re-entry thereof.
8. Any man or boy who is detected either directly or indirectly attempting to defraud the company by altering or otherwise tampering with any wage-note or wage-book, or misrepresenting the amount earned by himself or by any other workman, will forfeit all claim to any bonus on his earnings.
On the 1st of July, 1865, the new company commenced operations. During the following twelve months the working of the collieries was carried on uninterruptedly on the novel co-operative plan before specified. Fortunately, a prosperous state of trade prevailed, and this, aided by the increased care and attention of the workmen, and, above all, by the absence of strikes, enabled the directors to divide 12 per cent, for the year on the paid-up capital, among the shareholders, and to devote a sum of 1800l. (equal to 2 per cent. on the capital), to the formation of a workman's bonus fund; out of which was distributed, in accordance with the regulations then adopted, but since modified, a bonus of 10 per cent, on their year's earnings to working shareholders (of course in addition to the dividends on their shares), and a bonus of 5 per cent. on their years earnings to working non-shareholders.[1]
This most satisfactory and practical result has of course removed many objections previously urged by the men. They have now the successful experience of the year gone by, to encourage them in the work of co-operation. Their employers can remind them of the day when, after receiving their regular wages, every holder of a bonus-book came into the pay-office, and numbers left it richer men than they had ever been before. Many had a five-pound note in their possession for the first time, and some few had two, the highest bonus being paid to a miner, who, being a shareholder, received on his year's earning of 100l. 8s. 912d. a bonus of 10 per cent., or 10l. 18s. 1012d. .
It is also a very satisfactory feature of the case that the amount so distributed has been universally well spent; by some, in the purchase of shares in the company; by others, in paying an instalment towards the purchase of a plot of freehold land, whereon to build a cottage; while the purchase articles of furniture, for domestic comforts, were very numerous.
In considering the applicability of the principle of industrial co-operation adopted by Messrs. Briggs to other undertakings, it is desirable to bear in mind that upwards of 60 per cent. of the cost of raising coal consists in wages paid for maunal labour, chiefly performed under ground, and a further 12 or 15 per cent, in materials, any unnecessary waste of which can be prevented by care on the part of the miners. From this circumstance arises the greater applicability of the principle to mining enterprise than to any undertaking, the prosperity of which largely depends upon the commercial shrewdness of any one or two individuals.
The success of Messrs. Briggs's experiment in greatly improving the relations between themselves and their workmen, has been most striking. As has been before remarked, the year gone by has been free from any trade dispute, a larger quantity of coal has been worked, and a larger profit has been realised by the partners than during any previous year, whilst higher wages have been paid to the workmen. It may, therefore, reasonably be hoped that the bond of union between employers and employed will be so strengthened that it will bear the strain of the adverse times which, sooner or later, must be felt by every member of our commercial community. That proved, there remains but little doubt, but that the principle of industrial co-operation is destined to spread wherever, over the civilised world, man has to earn his living by the sweat of his brow.
P.S.—April 12th, 1867.—Since the above was written, there has been a large increase in the business of the company; the weekly sales having risen from about 6000 to near 8000 tons, and the weekly wages paid to about 1300l.; or, at the rate of 67,000l. per annum.
The interest shown by the workmen in the system of operation between themselves and their employers, and their appreciation of the advantages offered them, are constantly increasing.
Many of the colliers are also availing themselves of the assistance offered by the company, by means of loans to enable them to build cottages for themselves, on plots of freehold land, sold to them by the company at a low rate.
Mr. Briggs adds, in a note addressed to me in May, 1868: "At the end of the last financial year (Jane 30, 1867), there was a net profit of 16 per cent. upon the 90,000l. capital, 13 per cent. of which was distributed amongst the shareholders, and 3 per cent., or 2700l., amongst the operatives, according to their earnings."
APPENDIX IV.
I extract from an admirable address of Mr. Clare Sewell Read, M.P., to some labourers of Norfolk, the following remarks: "I am one of those who know a kind Providence gives us food, but think, if the Evil One did not send cooks, he certainly has kept women singularly ignorant of one of the foremost of domestic duties. We hardly know how much of the happiness of a poor man depends on the preparation of his food. His capacity for labour, his health, and consequently his comfort and good temper, are mainly dependent upon it. Generally speaking, the economy of the farm-kitchen in cooking is much greater than that of the cottage. Therefore, all things being equal, if I were a young labourer, I should always make love, not to black eyes or blue, but to a good plain cook—though it might suit all the better if the plain cook were a nice-looking girl. I shall be told that there is plenty of materials in a farm-kitchen to make a good dinner; but it generally happens that the knowledge of how to make the most of an abundance will also furnish the best and readiest means to make the best use of a litte. Knowledge of even the first principles of cooking is often entirely absent in a cottage; and plain fare, that might be made palatable and digestible by good management, is too often rendered distasteful and indigestible, and consequently the hard-earned wages of the husband are well-nigh wasted. You will laugh at my offering yon a cooking receipt, but I happened many years since to give a few peas away in a severe winter for making soup. On going into one cottage I tasted some that was decidely nice, and in a neighbour's, the sort of soup, that was essentially nasty. Now, the only difference, I was assured, was that the first was made from snow and the other from hard water. No doubt the virtues of soft water in making soup are well known to all cooks, but they may not be to every labourer's wife, and I would remark that I think we have strong prejudices against soups and broths, in which the Scotch so much excel, which may possibly arise from our inferior method of preparing them."
- ↑ April 4th, 1867.—According to the present scale of bonus, the distribution would have been 712 per cent. to working non-shareholders, upon the amount of their earnings.