Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

34 articles on this Page

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

------SEVERN AND WlrE RAILWAY…

WILLS AND BEQUESTS.

[No title]

[No title]

HOUSE OF LORDS.—FRIDAY.

. -HOUSE OF COMMONS.—EHIDAY.

Correspondence.

.,. DR. TRENCH AND DISSENT.

THE TORY MEETING IN THE SOPHIAI…

THE CONSERVATIVE FETE.

THE PROPOSED INVITATION 10…

AGRICULTURISTS AND THEIR LABOURERS.

News
Cite
Share

AGRICULTURISTS AND THEIR LABOURERS. To the Editor of the SOUTH WALES DAILY NEWS. SIR,—Now that the Royal Agricultural Show is about meeting at Cardiff, I trow it would not be inopportune to 1 invite attention to this important question. Much has been spoken and written upon the abject position of the labouring class in some counties in England, and much may also be said and written about them in many coun- ties in Wales. In nine cases out of ten the only remedy suggested by the lords of the soil is the erection of decent cottages. What does this imply? In the nrst place, the improvement and consequent increased value of the estate upon which such dwel- lings are erected, and presumptively increased rental will fe demanded from the tenant farmer. There are many extensive landlords in Glamorganshire that never lay out a penny in drainage, outhouses, or any other buildings upon their estate, without imposing an increased rental of five to seven and a half per cent. upon the out- lay This being so, how can the tenant farmer be ex- pected to improve his holding, and increase his labourer's wages ? That neat and decent cottages are desirable cannot be denied, but will the occupier's loaf grow bigger, and other domestic necessaries become more abundant ? Certainly not It will rather place him in a more enslaved position. Suppose a case—often too true-to be winked at. and of too fre- quent occurrence to be denied-a. dispute or disagreement arises between employer and employed. The cottage tenure is on the same terms as the labour contract, i.e., subject to a. week or a month's notice, or, indeed, often immediate dismissal. What is the labouring man to do in the event of no other service appearing speedily at hand ? The only alternative is to sell or remove his furniture forthwith until both house and service are obtained. Then, what is the tenant farmer to do in the face of ad- vanced rental ? He has sons and daughters who are neces- sarily compelled to toil as substitutes for the labourer their education is neglected, they are not taught any trade or profession. Hence when they come of age to settle in life. they have again no alternative but to take some menial employment upon a railway, at a mill or warehouse, or some other service. A farm for each child, parents cannot procure, and emigration to many is objec- tionable. To get the former, it depends either upon the highest bidder or favour and affection, whether the holding be worth anything or not. Many first-class agriculturists have been obliged to abandon this cherished pursuit, and it is thoroughly well- known by landowners that thousands of farmers' sons cannot get any holding at any cost, on anything like remunerative terms—to say nothing about tenant rights, leasehold or annual occupancy, the game laws, and many other obnoxious conditions. How can the position of the farmer and his labourer be improved to any extent do- mestically and socially ? Surely not by erecting cottages onlii. Now. sir, Agricultural Shows and Labourers' Friendly Societies, and Ploughing Matches are very well; but what is there in them to advance the intellectual and sodal condition of both V No incentive in the shape of prizes to foster education, to improve leisure hours. Why not offer, in conjunction with these institutions tangible prizes for proficiency in education and practical informa- tion that immediately concern their respective interests In conclusion, let me hope the subject will command the attention of the more influential agriculturists at this forthcoming meeting.—Yours, Src. WILLIAM YORATH. 9, Mansel-street, Swansea.

[No title]

GLAMORGANSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS.…

THE EXPERIMENTS UPON THE GLATTON.'

Advertising

THE ÉKGINEvIEN OF THE STEAM…

[No title]

.-CARDIFF.

NEWPORT.

SWANSEA.

ABERDARE.

TREDEGAR.

RHYMNEY.

I BRECON.

MERTHYR.

MURDER IN THE ISLE OF MAN.

COURT MARTIAL.

[No title]

MPW BAXTER ANIX DISESTABLISHMENT.'

LAW AND POLICE.

[No title]