LABOUR IN ENGLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11537, 25 March 1898, Page 3

LABOUR IN ENGLAND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Seeing an account of the life and work of Mr Joseph Arch, the friend of the labourer, I may say I heard him make his first speech at Spalding, Lincolnshire. His second, I think, was made at Whaplode Drove. It may be said with truth that he was the founder of the labour movement in that part. The beginning of his life was similar to all boys there, crow-scaring being part of tneir apprenticeship. The beginning you will notice is not of the brightest. March, the end of October and November are not as a rule the most pleasant months for small boys to be wandering up and down paddocks. The beginning, however,.blends well with the end, both cheerless 'alike. When Mr Arch first appeared on the stage as an enlightener of men, or animals in the form of man, that poor; beast —and I am quite right in using the term, as he was not, and still is not, valued half as much as a draught horse or fat bullock, the truth of which is proved by the way he was and is still fed—was receiving 2s per day. Strong fine fellows I have seen working for that sum, The day’s work was from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with an hour for dinner, rainy days in many instances no work. lam alluding to the ordinary day men, married men per term working from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Horse tenders and ploughmen received from 12s to 15s per week, with cottage; single, with board, &e., youths who could plough as straight as a line, from £5 per year; men from £lO to £lB. The hours between work and work were spent in improving the mind, or prayer, the latter being of great importance, considering the blessings and comforts enjoyed. I have seen a man with a family go to work time after time on a breakfast of bread and weak tea. Do you wonder at me writing against the inequalities that exists ? If you had seen these things taking place,*,would you not have spoken out ? I believe you would. Like Mr Arch, I could draw harrowing pictures of these poor tools that exist only to fatten up kings, queens, dukes, lords and all the rest of the pack who are ever and anon crushing the life-blood out of the industrious. After the Unions and their effects began to be felt wages went up to 2s 9d per day for day men, time from 6.30 a.m. to 5.30p.m. There were some who worked until six, but these, of course, deserved it, for not daring to stand up for their rights and interests. I am not in a position to say if tho same conditions apply at present or not, as the seasons and prices have been anything but good since that time. The men, however, in my opinion, are largely responsible for their own wrongs, and if the position they once gained has been affected it is owing to their inertness and lack of unity.—l am, &c., GEO. BAETY.