The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-11-03 00:00:00

WAREHAM AND PURBECK LABOURERS
FRIEND SOCIETY.

The annul mectinz of this smiety took pinee lnst
• •onev.that depr :arum .tauce .. Toe
ocatlior Una thu ath•11,1a..,•6
ty:t.. unusually stool!. so that the proceedings lacked Iles
the Manic exhilaration wldch Iltiloirens gives, A'A were
104 a thought dull. Still it Is gratifying to lind that the
imewar the Laboor Question Inc. not wartsl t society
out Of existence as other:. have Leen extinguished, lei tII, it
the ex. s.,eretary ('Jr. W. It. Lseerk
year a • ;'..ouar) nio tme let ree •apoo ••• .oi
what re: CI tint the Ptiul fs•el, now stleh
as to look forward ti a full list of premium. at the to :t
meetii.4. His work the laht year or two has ten twin els
anti continuous, and at is a matter of congratiil .tin, Ciat
be has been enabled to keep the society for :t i, if '
considerable importance in preserving gmel relations
between tbe farmers and labourers of the district,
The proceedings of the day began with a plonAing
match at Esst Stoke, on a clover ley of Mr. Ilenry White's.
The competitors numbered II in the men'A class, four in
the boys', and three in the champions'. The judges were
—Mr. William Longman, flellmish : Mr. Charles Heseet,
Dere Regis; and Mr. John Scutt, Here Itegi., Their
awards were as follows :
Forum.a —Ffrst, it It4s, David Bulls, servant to Mr 11.
FJIII; I.econsi, LI I s, John Kellaway. scnant to Mr J. M.
8...Me1d: third, be ISAAC I.lllgfor I. llerVsilt, to Mr W.
Hindus Mills, Wool. Boys under 17 --rind, cl Reuben Cobb,
perVant to Mr B. White: second. CI, Thomas Georze. servant
Vs Mr 11. White. With oxen—First, £2 Robert Law...ford,
servant to )Jr (:. A. Madden ; commended, aml a arditor
of
10S, Charles Bullock, servant to Mr T. C. Saunciera Witer-
°Kobe. Champion clans—Cl, James Rolls, nant to Mr 0.
Elks.
We add other prizes not reported li.sfore :--
TveNti; llostoo.--11ri1t. 41 10s, James Luersi errs-ant to Mr
R. White : second. El 10s, William House, servant to Mr W.
S. ItoH; third, 105, William Durey, servant to Mr MatthoW

,
Randall
Lama Re *in:W.—First. V 2 its, Wilkant 111les' servant to Mr
W. S. Mull ; second. Li the. tio.rge State, servant to Mr
Ilenr.v White ; William (harity. lierv‘tit to Mr )1.
Randall; LI Its, Robert Holism. senant to Sir W. Foote ;
third, 15s, Henry Senna*, senant to )1r J. S. Swaffield.
The successful competitors dined tmzether at the Red
Lion Hotel in the afternoon. Mr. J. 11. ralcr.ft, of
Itempstone, presiding. After the repast the Chairman
congratulated them on excelling, and nobeti them joy.
and prosperity. He trusted the present terms of good
will and friendship between them and their employers
would be continued and be reciprocal.
The annual dinner of the society's members and friends
was subsequently held at the Black Bear Hotel, under the
presidency of the Hon. W. 11. B. Portman, M.P., the
coull'auY comnririne Mr. E. .1. Weld, J.P., Mr. G. H.
Bond, the Rev. Owen Mensal, of Church Knowki, Mr.
Freelaad Filliter (Town Clerk of Wareham) Mr. John T.
H. Scutt, Mr. H. G. Garland, Mr. W. Daniell, Mr. J. IL
Garland, Mr. & W. Bennett, Kr. W. Longman (Belhuish).
Mr. C. Besent, Mr. W. Lucas. Mr. W. C. Lacey, Mr.
James Sherrenl T. A. Oakley, Mr. J. J. Bates, Mr.
James Besent (Rogers Hill), Mr. G. A. Sudden (Coombe),
Mr. H. White, r. C. J. Lacey, Mr. J. Beer, sen_, Mr.
Jackson, Mr. C. Beale, Mr. J. A. Penton, Mr. David
Taylor, and Mr. J. .1. Clarke. After the repast.
The 011AIREAE proposed the usual loyal toasts, and then
" The Bishop and clergy " remarking on the recent
ecclesiastical legislation. The Public Worship NU was
aimed at • particular section of the clergy whose practices
were such as many of them did not approve, but he feared
it would lead to a certain amount of disturbance in the
church. He had warmly supported the measure, and
hoped it would be productive of good.
The Rev. OWEN MeNSEL returned thanks, and lauded
the Bishop of Salisbury for establishing the Synod which
he thought would prevent that alienation between clergy
and laity which some now feared. Personally ever since
he had been connected with that district he had been
received with the greatest kindness, and he believed good
feeling towards the clergy would be maintained as long
as they faithfully and diligently discharged their duties—
(hear, hcar). They would not gain popularity by any com-
promise of truth or truckling to party. but as long as they
consulted the feelings of the laity, they would, he hoped,
retain the confidence at present reposed in them—

(applause).
Mr. W. C. LAMY, the hon. secretary, was then called
urn to read the prize o
the vutset he read Ifitters.d.
oof ZCIogy G
14
Mr. absence,l
from
Colondeillansel,
go.andtiMen.nir. Farrerwho,nithmer. ei:co:yerh.dof Wwaren. hamh.d.thTbe
per.la,itoteu:
day met with an accident by falling from his horse, and
was confined to his room. The hon. secretary remarked
that he had done his best for the society's support, taking
upon himself the duties of secretary at the earnest request
of the farmers. But including even himself and the three
judges of ploughing. he did not think he could count ten
farmers who at present supported the society. That be
very much regretted. He thanked Mr. Portman, on behalf
of the committee, for the pronipt and kind manner in
which he had responded to the invitation to preside at the
dinner. They were all glad to me him, but be regretted
so few were present to meet liim—(hrar. hear). Al to the
finances, matters had assumed a brighter aspect From
members had been received .2100, which was • larger sum
by a great deal than the receipts from that source last
year. The amount paid in pnzes was £42 3s. 10d. He
should have been glad to recommend the same as on
former occasions. but last year he did not eat his way clear
In regard to funds. They had, therefore, stopped at clam
13, holding beck prizes to the amount of 1.12 191. This
item would have augmented the prize list to .018 19s. MM.,
and as there was owing for printing and advertisements
LEi, the total outlay would have been 4:83. That morning
the society had .015 Ns. 21. at the banker's, and .215 uas
due to the society. making a total of Cloo Ills. 2d. He
thought he could fairly recommend the committee in May
to offer all the prizes as heretofore, if it were deemed wise
to give them. That, he considered, was very gratifying.
Next year they would be able to give not only the £l2
presented on this occasion, but also the LIM formerly
awarded for long and faithful servitude, lie had tailed •
committee meeting for that day in order that he might
explain the altered state of the finances; be regretted the
attendance was suiall, but Mr. Bates, Mr. George !hidden,
and Mr. Henry Garland were appointed as a sub-com-
mittee—with is-mver to add to their number -to suggest
any alterations that would advance the interests of the
society, a special general meeting on the subject to be sub-
sequently convene.ll—fapplau.e).
The CHAIRMLN followed with the toast of "The Army,
Navy, and Reserve Forces?' He did not think the policy
of the late Government in military matters had answered,
and illustrating the complaints as to desertion be own.
tioned that one elneer who had four regiments under his
command at Aldershot, assured him they could not muster
as many as his old regiment which he took to India at the
time of the mutiny. Europe now, observed Mr. Portman,
was in a ticklish state, and it was impossible to gay that
England might not soon be called upon to take an active
part in the affairs of the Continent. The navy, however,
was fit to compete with all the fleets put together of the
rest of the worid—(applause)—and lie expatiated in terms
of satisfaction on the militia, yeomanry, and volunteers.
Lieut. Ini9o, in responding, expressed the opinion that
relinquishing the branding of deserters was answerable
for the thinness of the regimente. A lot of scamps, he
observed, obtained free kits and afterwards re-enlisted,
disposing of their former clothing, and not one in twenty
was detected.
_ . _ . _ .

I.icuPxcrov replied for the volunteers.
The Rev. 0. Maxim., in a few "dry " words. he haying
abjured the fluid in which healtha are usually drunk, pro-
d The Lord Lieutenant and Magistracy."
Mr. E. J. WRl5i, with whose name the toast was asso-
ciated, responded, and prop Ted the health of " The
borough and county neculers, congratulating the coup
piny on having Mr. Portman present. They would have
the pleasure of hearing the hon, members views upon
matters of general interest; and he thought politics might
to a certain extent be properly. introduced in order that
they might know what was doing in that position which
they did not occupy themselves-(applausek
the Non. \V. H. It. PORTMAN, in responding said: The
first thing that struck ine on joining the new House
of Commons was the thinned ranks of the Liberai party-
they appeared very much like the ranks of an army alter
a severe engagement. There was plenty of room and to
spare for us all (the Liberals), and I said to some of my
fnends who appeared to be very much crowded on the
Government side of the House that if they could not find
sitting room there we should be happy to give places to
them amongst us-(laughter). On looking over the list of
names I mined no less than over forty who had been more
particularly friends of my own that had lost seats at the
general election. Some people say that the result was
, attributable to beer and others to Conservative reection,
, but whatever it is there can be no doubt there has been a
yen' great revulsion of feeling in the country, and I think
it probable that the present Government will remain in
office some considerable tame- (applause). I think the
/ Ballot has proved-as I always expected it would- • very
Conservative measure. No doubt Mr. Disraeli holds a
similar opinion. I believe it has acted in this way. In
many large towns the smaller shopkeeper, were formerly
subject to pressure from the lower clauses and rather
afraid of the rougher element in the constituencies, so
that they did not record their votes, but their opinions
I were for the most part Conservative. Now under the
Ballot they have been enabled to give their votes with-
out intimidation. That I believe, to be the first result
of election by Ballot. I have noticed of late thst at meet-
ings of this kind speakers of Liberal politics have
criticised the Government, saying they promised this and
that but had not carried into effect half their programme.
But I am not going to take any such line. The Govern-
ment is bound to produce a handsome bill of fare yet it
Is perfectly impcesibk that Parliament can get through
more than a certain amount of business t• • 'mien, and
some of the measure* announced of necessity fall through-
' A great many omstituenci•o-though I mu happy to stay
Donet is not one of them-expect their members to be
jumping up in every debate to give their opinions on all
manner of subjects. Now that may be all very well, but
it does not facilitate public business ; and &certain number
of gentlemen in the House make it • point to show in such
a number of divisions every session; and I have heard I
some of them sitting their till twelve or one o'clock say '
, they were net going to remain there till midnight without
I a division, and get up and move the adjournment of the
House or something of that kind just for their names to
appear in the division list-Oamphter). I think if their
were fewer divisions and ksa talking more useful Ilualnus
would be done than can be under present circumstances-
(hear, hear). I am very glad to see from soine remarks
made by my excellent colleague-Mr. Foyer-at Bea-
minater, that he dots not quite see his way to carrying out
the taxation of funded property so fully as some few
persons in this county think it possible to do. The
Liberal Government was much commented upon for not
doing it, and now we have one of the supporters
of the prevent Ministry fraukli confessing he did
not see how it could be done. They have, however,
given some relief to local rste_payers, which might as
well have been marital out by Mr. Gladstone's Govern-
, mut., and I hope they may see their way to grappling
with the whole subject of local taxatiin. It is, however
very great question, and one which Mr. Gladetone. the
greatest financier of the day, said was the nioet difficult
matter he had ever considered. I am glad to see another
Government haa a chance of handling it, and I shall In
curious to see what they make of it. It is a great relief
to a member who has sat for the greater part of hi, parliamentary life on the Government side of the House
to be absolved from the duty of standing up to support
acts uhich aculietiinft in hid heart he considers mistake&
of the party to which he belongs-Alaughter.) To criticise
from tile Opposition aide ot the House is a mueh easier
task, but I hope that no remarks of mine will be dis-
tasteful to any person Present. I observe that Mr. Reid,
the able and energetic number for Norfolk has touched upon the que,tion of County Boards-and it is a .nbjeet
tal.n which much interest has been felt in this par, of
Dorset. I do not make out exactly from his
whether he advocates there should he one County BB‘o..:rd
to control the finances of the lunatic asylums, police, and
such matters now managed t•••
or whether they should remain aa in most counties,
should be under the supervision of a separate County Board,
conducted by separate
emeriii::tease;PaZtet
weal:jam:4o7i.
and that again, under the control of Quarter Sessions.
But Mr OWD Impression is, that our present plan is the
best-that of having each matter managed by. committee
appointed by Quarter Sessions; but, by all means, if you
like, enlarge those committees by admitting certain
representative ratepayers not in them now, but let all
be under the control of Quarter Sessions. I think it
would be a bad thing to take away the ultimate APPeal
from the various committees to the Quarter Sessions.
The present system of
making those committees reseon-
sible to the whole Court teens which acts remarkabty well,
and tench to keep things straight in the different depart-
ments. There is another question that used to be very
much talked about in the neighbourhood of Wareharu
mean the Malt-tax. I don't know whether I am right in
touching on these
hope I than do so without offending any one's political._
sentiments Several years ago there was a_ good dall
of the Halbtax. One
agitation in this county for the rerd - • r Irma the
day I was at Poole Junction and toe[ • ...Tar "Coming
neighbourhood of Wareham ; so I said to al
from that locality, I suppose you are • stronf,`"vocate
Points-4" Yea lyes," "Go on ')-nut I
and be answered.
I am not r I asked him him whY,
sample of barley;
vveti, yousee, f grow a pretty
g'"dtaa should not get
but I'm afraid that if there was no
for doing away with the sult-tas r
new light on the
But he rept..., +so.
so much for it sa I do now." This was • . i
subject to me ; but from =quirks' I have made n different
per 4 of the country I find that bonen are be no mute

unamions este the desirability of repeal- In the Pane(
county of Northampton they don't care a hit about it,
and from the variety .4 opinions 'nee I think it writhe
sem.: ewe 'whore the tat IA repeeleol. I ."" iv"!
Governmeitt With A ntaloht: D.' -even milli eis weasel. not
touch it, and tecrefore I oeinizet see Iron whet', e nol.ef is
to ovum. At the SAW, tinge I have V‘,l,,,lW:•.ita't the L.K.
and I shall rontiene V. de AO whenes er the opeortenity
'Hee - [apple see With regard toi ,het oo• ere of told ',Non
:eh of November Mr. le-rive and tier .ve mite•esel
iv at the Mansion Hon,. at the. e j. general experts-
ti et t10..t ;hey u ill for. -leo !ow a i:le of Coe r policy for
lb • e ..... :Nes ''ti; I, it tr om wlo tt I
I: 1,., Well Of Mr.
lie ewe, and what I know of Ii i I '4l C..1.1r341 [
theik &Totten:: he twie solooW W. 14 1,.) very seadewy
ieolee.l-(l.vipthter). 'lhe pr esiloeit v ;-• thet be will deal
vow: meet, in. generalities. and tlu;, I, . wee+, like the
riddle of the ancient Selene. v ill be interpneed in
different ways aeconlitie o the pre. Ii lo ••• els of those who
'hely it-eaughter, and hear. heire I will now brieffy
advert to tlie labuer rinse:time lorv. ry gl:tol te see this
society DIAIDIAIDA itself. I think it is quee rielit at all
events to make an effort to keep up the old relations
between masters AIDI labourers-(Ii oar. hear). It may be
probable that we shall never see again tee old reletionis as
they exieted :le year.. ago, but I think that by %hewing
there is no hostile spirit towards the laheurers and taking
IWityt to 414, what is WWI R!141 right luy thema ,great deal of
the Present agitation %Leh obtaine in the lehour markct
III'.) he User, ~,,5 e. No emilit malty resources who have
'eft thil ',mode and gone to the North of England have
returned, for they found they uere nitwit better off here
with lighter work than in the north and midland
commie* with higher wages, increased house-rent, and
heeler work. You may think it either bold of 1111, to
make a touggestien, lon I do so beeeol et 1 have Well 1110
plan tried with great aolvreita^e. It. that of not giving
iii
labourers the name fixed wages all the year round, hut
adopting a sholing eat; with the neveiiii n of pay in the
summer, awl the ttt i t 11111412 in the sleet 'lays of winter,
with a moolitioatien of the two if you like an the spring
awl autunite I know of one lame in a 11101 it has teen
tried, and the result, hoe e been oe celichieterY• The
labourers get lower wages in wititer, bat they are satisfied
bee:ewe the yearly average is an, good that they are bet
tentlessl to leave their employment. In the pneent cries
latiolowners are responsible for a greet oiled. They must
do what they can to provide roood dwellings for the
labourers, and help them in the wee ter ef alletieents.
prest n t cry for four acres of lanol isle. new te tog -it is copied
:rumen old law lathe time of queen Elizee ileby which no
man was allowed to buiblacottree without it had four a eel
of land attached to it. But in the early part of the reign of
George 111, it was found no ineonvenient that it WWI re-
pealed, for as the pepuletion increaeel it WA, hilD4w,ll,lo
for every labouriug man to have that anemia of land,
neither dot think it e:.pedient. !belie..,, that a tuarter
or half an acre is quite as much as he can work with due
ree-ard to the service he is bound to give his master, -
(hear, hear). I think that the high wages which are now
given in the North must COMO down, for in the iron mad
coal districts trade is 'envies thin country owing to the
demands of workmen. A great deal of lousiness which
used to be olone hernia now being taken by Belgian iron.
masters, who find that with lower wages they can brim
manufactured goods into England with greater ad vantaee
than our own maker, cell sell them. I thinlethe working
men in the Norte have yet to learn that waees are after
all a question oof supply and detested, awl that it is quite
imposeible that ato abnormally high rate oof wages can
continue. With meant to emigmtieu, I saw the ether day
some curious seitistics showing the return stream feint
Canada, Australis, and the rolonioe. In leie the back-
ward flow was much ince...see and amounted to no lees
than 11111,000 pennon.: The class who returned were chiefly
those more accustomed to labour with their heoels than
their hande Nu ohoule Lilsourers are wanted, lout many
have gone to Ile ei. ohiuking they had very little to
du to make thew 101/Utic.. I have known severe! caeos.
A relation of mine went out thinking he Was genie to do
greet things, but lie hoool to turn hi'. 112,1111 L 44 whatever he
could find to do. He had leen an eflieer in the navy, but
he was glad to take a turn at selling newspapers at the
station, carrying out meat and bread, and so forth-
(laughter)-anol no doubt many who have emigrated might
have done better at hotue. I will not detain you much
longer, but before I sit down I cannot reels' telling you •
joke perpetrated by a Literal tuember at the beginning of
last sexsion, when the Conservative Government bezan to
air some of their measures. They proposed, if you
recollect, to lengthen the hours for drinking at public-
houses, to spend more money on the navy, and they
proposed and camels measure for reducing the seendard
of education for children in rural slisUicts. These meaeures
a facetious Liberal turned into a motto for the Cowen se
retire party as to drink more :spend more !! learn less !!!
-(much laughter). In conclusion he proposed "I'rusperity
to the Town of Wareham,' coupled with the name of Mr.
Panton-(applause),
I Mr. J. A. leverue responded.
The Cuelastae proposed "The Patron or the Society
tEld th on), e I'ice-Patron (11r. Weld), and the l'rest-
ard t(Mr. Celcref tee
Mr. WELD, who spoke in reply, considered the associa-
tion had beta prosluctive of great good, notwithstanding
the occasional strictures and ridicule in the Times con-
cerning such societies. Industrious and skilled labourers
had been encouraged The eaciety bad experienced
troubled times, lout these he Impel had partied away. It
was a very useful society, and showed that its promoters
desired to encourage their ,auploecm as far as pessible to
carry their skill to tie utmost perfeetion.
Mr. leteime. gave "The Judges.
Mr. Scum in replying, referred to the toloughing,
observing the boys had done their work exceedingly well,
but they were not so well pleases' with the champion
closes.
__

Mr. iit.RT GARLAND proyer,eil in cordial terms "Tha
health of Mr. Lacey,- which was heartily- received.
Mr. L4CEV, in reply ing,reiterated the expre.iou of regret
that the farmers did not take utorepracti,aliuterest in the
society, and lie trusted this would he rerneutbered in
future._

Mr. Flu:KJ.uso FILLITT.II prope..l " The Sueeeiatul
Coulpetit..r.,- Mr. WHITE 411‘11 Mr. 11
Mr. BOND ere "The Usi•ii, and
Mr. Gt11..1,1). inreqcu..: bah, lie :s.4.th..nann.h,tt Ptirs
lAA year, they runentlwral he It.ei • .tet: thew year after
yew'. awl h., (10,ibt lie .11.4.1.1.1.,

Tl;e 1.4,4 " The Pros.' was gijea hy thr I 11.01111. ti.
and duly twknowle.l4e,l.

Mr. litt ,111.1ti11.1.1 the t0a.4.4 "I,ie I I..,irtaan.- and
Mr. MarxAs acknua IiNLAI ti•C
The hen. menthe; and frien.ls then kit, the chair
was taken for the retoainder of the evening by )Ir. Lacey.