“HIRING A LAD”

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 February 1935, Page 11

“HIRING A LAD”

BRITISH FARMER GOES TO FAIR.

Most farmers with whom I have discussed the question agree that they would as soon do anything as go to the “hirings” to try to engage a lad or a lass (writes S.H.C. in the “Manchester Guardian”). It’s such a “hitty-missy” job. All you have to go by, for references are almost unknown amongst ordinary farm hands, is appearance, and this can be deceptive, as most of us have learnt to our cost. My neighbour, Ben Herd, and I each wanted a lad for the half-year, and Ben thought Cockermouth would be the best place. There are most young ones there, and they were the sort we wanted. Ben had been, to Cockermouth several times for lads, but I had always gone to Carlisle or Wigton before. The “hirings” this year were on November 12, and we took care to be amongst the early arrivals. The business starts about 9 a.m., and as Ben said, I thought wisely, “The lads that are there first are keenest on getting a job- and they are the sort we want, and besides, it’s no use getting there after they have been ‘picked through.’ ” Cbckermouth on “hiring” days is a vastly 'Hfferent place from its ordinary self; the whole of Main Street, a wide thoroughfare, is used as a fairground, and no traffic is allowed to use it. When we. got there it was simply packed with roundabouts, shooting-galleries, swings, hoop-la stalls, and all the other attractions of an old-time country fair. The girls who are to hire stand at one end of Main Street and the lads at the other, on the bridge crossing the Cocker. There must have been between two and three lads of all ages standing there swhen Ben and I arrived at about 9.15 to join in the hunt with dozens of other farmers. After arranging a meeting-place with Ben I had to walk through the lads to see if I could pick out a few that looked like suiting me. It was amusing to see how, when you got your eye on one, he gave you the “once over” too. You have to be something of a psychologist for this job, and on seeing a suitable youth I questioned myself after the following manner:—Does he look intelligent, pleasant, and good-tempered? (A very important point this, where men have to work amongst breeding stock).'ls he strong and does he look healthy? Is he clean and tidy? and so on.

“WHERE’S IT TILL?” After fixing on four or .five I proceeded to question them one by one. Urlfortunately you. always to start with “Are you to hire?” because the old custom, whereby those who were to hire had a piece of straw in their mouths, and those who were hired stuck it in their caps, has died out, and one does not know which is which. The first I tried had jiist got hired, so I turned to another. “Yes, Ah’s t’hire!” he said. “Where’s it till?” he parried. “Caldbeck,” I said. “Oh, Ah’s not gaun till Ca’dbeck,” he grumbled, “Ah want to be doon th’e country wid me pals.” The next one was a lad about fifteen, who seemed to have his mother with him. After a few preliminary questions I asked him if he could milk. “Yes, I can milk,” he said, I thought rather dubiously. When I asked next if he could go with horses the woman chipped in briskly with, “Oh, ves, you know, he has been going with the milk float!” I thought this probably explained why he knew little about mlilking. KWhat wage are you asking?” I said. “Where is it to?” queried the woman, eyeing me suspiciously the while. “Caldbeck,” I said, fearing the worst. “Caldbeck'.” she shrilled. “Oh, lor’, no, he’s not going up there to be blown away,” and she turned away with a scornful laugh. Now we farmers have a belief that

“right sorts” are not particular where they go so long as they get a job and the wage they want, and besides, we do not like “coddlings,” so I turned to look for another. Fortunately I ran into a lad who had been hired in Caldbeck and knew me, but he was too old for nly job. He had a pal with him, though, who looked like suiting me. Naturally it helps tremendously if someone knows you—that is if you have a good name; if you have not it pays to go to a hiring where you are not likely to be known at all, for the lads soon pass the word round if a place gets a bad name. So after a few inquiries, not all on my part, for he wanted to know about hours, and “ten o’clocks,” and if he would be allowed a certain amount of horse work (nearly all young lads want to learn this), we got to work about a wage. He seemed anxious to hire to me, and after a little. “Will ta gie ma ten pun’ ten?” “I’ll give you ten pounds," I said, half turning away, when I heard his friend say, in an aside, “Ga on now, it’s a good shop, an’ C’adbeck’s a gay good village.” That decided him, and when I turned back, “Alt’ll just tak’ it, than,” he said; “Ah’ll mebby not git another chance.” I held out my hand and he tapped it (a local custom signifying acceptance of a deal); then I gave him his “earles,” Originally a shilling! bu# more is often given nowadays, which makes the contract legally binding. After exchanging, addresses and making arrangements' about his box and when he would come we parted, and I went in search of Ben.