The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-09-20 00:00:00

THE HON MR. BRAND ON THE
EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYED.

The Right Hon. H. B. W. Brand, Speaker of the House of
Commons, addressing his labourers at their harvest home at
(Hinds, Lewes, on esturday, said
You and I stand together in the relation of employer
and employed ; and for my part I should be very glad
if that relationship coaH always be made closer than
it is. We carry on together a business in common,
you finding the labour and I finding the capital. lam
reminded that at this time last year I made to you
labourers on my farm a proposal that you should
invest such savings aa you could spare in the
buiduess while I engaged on my part that I would
pay you two-and a-half per cent, interest upon
such savings, and whatever excess of profit might
be derived from the farm. Well, I made that offer
In good faith, but I am very sorry to find that none
of you feU in with the proposal ; and I am sorry for
it, because I believe that It would have been better
both for you and for me if you had shared in the prcfita
of the undertaking in which we are all concerned In
the manner proposed. lam one of those who believe
that the time will come when labour will be recom-
pensed In part, at least, according to the profits of
capital; and I should have been very glad if yen, the
fellow-workers with myself upon thin farm, had as-
sisted me in showing by example the way in which
that desired end might be attained. I wish to say now
that the offer I made to you last year is open for .ne
year more; and I am not without hope that on reflec-
tion yot will think better of it. Now, my good
friends, I am inybell about to the partnn or
Glyn& foe two or three months, to visit •
country which I have never even since the days
of toy youth; but you may all be sure of this, that if
I am absent in body, my heart is always here in my
home in the Southelowns, and I do assure you that
there is nothing that would give me greater satisfaction
and contentment than to see each and every one of you
In the enjoyment of the blessings of health, proaperity,
and happiness. In responding to the toast of his health,
the Speaker referred to the new Act on Education. Con-
sidering his official position, he said he was perhaps the
last man who ought to speak critically on Acts of Par-
liament, but he was bound to say he thought the one
in question, so far as it went (it did not go far) wan •
good one. He alluded to the course he had taken some
time since of not employing any young man on hie farm
who could not read and write, lie said he believed it
had been of advantage, insomuch as several young
men, who were unable to read and write, and desired
to enter his employ, had gone to school, and made
themselves proficient, lie could not say he had been
altogether eatiafied with the standard of proficiency,
but he believed the adoption of such a plan had been
of advantage. He observed that to employ • child
under twelve years of age in agriculture who wan un-
able to pass a given examination standard was illegal;
but he felt sure employers of labour would do their
best in a fair spirit to carry out the intention of Par-
liament ; but thin cou'd not he done unless by co-opera-
tion. The right hon, geatleman concluded by confess-
ing that he looked forward to the operation of the
measure with some hope, as rather enforcing, not com-
pelling • better and higher standard of education
among young-men employed as farm labourers.