The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-11-02 00:00:00

Etc citattrpriby (90serinr.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1872.

LANDLORDS, FARMERS, AND

LABOURERS.

Amongst the multitudinous labour movements
which have come upon society so thickly 4,f late
years, there was not one which at once aroused
more sympathy from the general public than the
agitation of the labourers for the means of im-
proving their position. That agitatation has, to
a large extent, been successful. In many parts
the wages of agricultural labourers have been
raised, and other advantages have been accorded
to them. On the whole their position has been
decidedly improved, though not to a very great
extent. During the long winter that is now close
upon us it is highly probable
,that in some cases
farmers who have been forced to concede more
than they ought to have done, will have their re-
venge in some form or other; but still not only
has the labourer's actual position, but his prospects
have been improved, and farm labourers now feel
that in the future their social status is likely to
become less degraded than hitherto it has been.
They have tasted the sweets and advantages of
union and organisation, and they will, in all pro-
bability, next spring endeavour to push these ad-
vantages still further. It becomes important,
therefore, that landlonls, farmers, and labourers
should well consider the whole question of capital I
and labour as it specially affects ;.themselves, and
that there klhould be cultivated a spirit of concil-
iation in the settlement of questions which are
still pending and which will continue to assert
themselves. Under these circumstances a speech
just delivered by Sir John Pakington at an agri-
cultural dinner is well worthy of consideration.
His calm judgement, his high personal character,
and his intimate acquaintance with agricultural
subjects, alike render his remarks worthy of res-
pect.
thr John said that he might perhaps startle
some of his hearers. What effect his remarks may
have had on those present we have no means of
knowing, but there is nothing startling in his
speech as outsiders read it On the contrary, it
is full of sound commonsense. We heartily agree

with him in deprecating the action of professional
agitators generally, but it must be admitted that
in the case of the farm labourers, in consequence
of their low state of education„ their disorganisa-
tion, and their general dependence, the influence
and exertions of agitators was more excusable than
they generally are. But the time has now arrived
when farm labourers should learn to do without
extraneous agitation, and to depend on them-
selves. Sir John advises them to look up to those
who, in his belief, desire to do justice to them and
make them happy. This desirable result can,
however, only be achieved by the agricultural in-
terest generally doing what they can to promote
the welfare of the labourer, bearing in mind that
this will be a mutual benefit to employer and em-
ployed. Sir John maintains that landlords ought
to grant leases to the farmer, with compensation
for unexhausted improvements. The whole ques-
tion of the land and land-tenure is " looming iu
the future," and it will have to be met. It will
be well therefore for the public to devote atten-
tion to the solution of one of the most important
problems that this generation has been called up-
on to solve.