The Thames Star MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1913. EDITORIAL. THE BRITISH LABOR PARTY.

Thames Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 14554, 23 June 1913, Page 4

The Thames Star

MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1913. EDITORIAL. THE BRITISH LABOR PARTY.

Our Mottc : - Fear of None ; Favour to None ;

Justice to All.

▼"■ — rrHE MINIMUM. WAGE. The appeal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in debate to all parties to co-operate in a land policy was, ft is understood, bwsed on the iact that an Agricultural Employment Boards Bill has been introduced by Mr J.W. Hills which practically embodies the policy which'has been advocated by Bladicals sine© the liberal land inquiry was eet up. We read that the Bill, which is "backed' 3 ifoy Mr. Leslie ;Scott, Lord; Henry Bentinck, Sir Maifle Sjykes, Mr W. Astor, and Captain Weigall, was brought in on their initiative, and there is author ritiy for stating that if was don© without consultation with, the party leaders. It proposes to set up district boards in 15 scheduled counties in which the agricultural wag© is lowest, with power to the Board of Trade to extend the system to other districts. These boards, it is px-oposedj should "fix a daily rate wage which will secure as far as practicable to the . agripultural labourers affected 'a living wage," having regard to the current cost of living in the district. And the first clause provides that no agricultural labourers in the scheduled districts shall bo employed at a lower rate of pay than the wage, rat© fixed by the boards. Another clause gives

power to fix a separate "minimum wage rate for agricultural labourers" who are provided by their employers with board and lodging. It should be said that there are many tJiiionists who consider that such a policy, so far from bringing men h&dk to the land, Avould drive them from it, since they fear that it would lead to many labourers being throAvn / out of employment from economic causes. The fact is that both parties just- now have their eye on the Newmarket by-election. But although a few Unionists, in consequence*, seem in danger of losing their sense of perspective, it is worth remarking that Mr Lloyd . G-eiQJ-ge, in making his appeal to ■all parties for. a common b&sis, did not offer to abandon the Liberal policy of State landlordism for small holders and to embrace instead the Unionist policy of land purchase. Mr G-foiii-e Roberts, the Chief Whip of the Labour Party, has given notice that he will introduce a Bill to establish a minimum wage for agriculturar labourers, aaid regulate their hours-, of latiour. The Bill "is put d:.wn for the 27th inst., when Farliament reassembles.