"KING'S WAGES."

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12255, 4 June 1914, Page 2

"KING'S WAGES."

" 'King's wages and .King's cond it ions' is tli-s? war-cry whiili tin' Agricultural Labourers' Union has inscribed on it» banners." say* the "Pail Mail." "Its leaders are ]»eparing a groat movement, not only in Norih-Wrfit Suffolk, lnit throughout England. Now Ki tin' time lor landowners and U'.naius to take occasion by thjfi hand, icmcevt measure.; for the road just merit of conditions, remedy an acknowledged wrong, and strande the 'laud-bursting' campaign at its birth." The strike of farm labourers in North-West SulTnlk and the lockout of a .score of labourers in the. village of llelion Bumpstead, in North, mx. are the most recent manifestations of the unrest among the agricultural labourois of the country which has been spasmedically evident, during the last twelve, month-,.* This unrest, has been largely fomented by tho widespread propagandist work of tin/National Union of Agricultural Labourer* and Rural Workers and that of the Workers' Union, which has formed an agricultural, labourers' section. Tho strike is" regarded as a trial of strength between the Farmers' Federation and the National Union. If the men succeed in obtaining their demands, there is little doubt that the other farmers in the country will have to fall into line, and the officials-claim to be confident of success. It would appear that in Nortli-West Norfolk the King himself- is the arch agitator. He has granted the men on his own farms a w-eekiv wage of 16s. together with a halfholida'v. That standard hardly seems one to get' wildly excited about, but a fire of revolt has been kindled among men getting 14s a week on adjoining farms. It hat> been decided by the executive of the National Agricultural Labourers' Union at once to commence in Norfolk a national campaign for better wages and conditions.