THE KING AND THE LABOURER.
The King has set an admirable example in endeavouring to improve the conditions of the labourers on his Norfolk estate, and men of all parties will applaud. On the Royal farm itself the terms of employment have always been generous; but what has now been done is to fix certain relatively generous minima, and to arrange that these shall be observed not only on the King's farm, but on all those of which he is the landlord. His tenants, it appears, have readily cooperated in this reform, and its establishment is now settled. It secures for every labourer on the estate a Saturday half-holiday, continuity of employment, rain or shine, and a minimum wage of 16s—a niinimum about 2s above what is a common wage in the neighbourhood, though from 4s to 6s below what is paid in nearly all cases on the King's own farm. In this matter the King continues the policy of his father, who was never tired of trying to make Sandringham in all respects a model estate. He is not the only important country landlord to take a lead this winter in improving the conditions of the labourers on his land, but he has gone as far as any, and the prominence of his Royal example should give a healthy impetus to a movement which has every possible justification, and none too many active followers.
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Northern Advocate, 1 May 1914, Page 11
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235THE KING AND THE LABOURER. Northern Advocate, 1 May 1914, Page 11
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