The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-12-01 00:00:00

District Nebo.

00TrAGE ACCOMMODATION ON FARMS IN

DOEET.

The second meeting of the Dorchester Ferment" '
Club, for the present session, took place but Satan*, '
evening. at the Antelope Hotel, when there was a
gratifying attendance. and the subject under orineklers '
Ron was ably arid fully discussed. Mr. .1. G. Homer
of Ilartinatown. presided, Mr. R. (hogs occupied the
vlonchair, and there were also present—B. N.
Eliot, Esq., J.P., (Weymouth), J. F. Hodges,
EN., J.P., Mr. R. Dames, Dr. Aldridge, J.P..
Mr. E. Whittle, Mr. J. A. Smith, Mr. H.
W. Hawkins, Mr. G. Symonds, Mr. J. Rowe, Mr. A.
Pope, Mr. G. Scutt, Mr. Grove., Mr. J. Lock, Mr. T.
Chapman Saunders, Mr. T. Chick, Dr. Smith, Mr. J.
Denten, Kr. T. Moor, Mr. T. S. Riggs, Mr. J. C. Foot,
Ac. Two new members were elected—Mr. Alfred Pope,
of Dorchester, and Mr. J. Lock, of Kingston.
Mr. J. G. Homes (the President) read the following
paper :—The subject I hays to bring before the club
this evening for &evasion is cottage accommodation on
farms, and the way in which the cottage system affects
generally the employer and employed. In the first
place, I will look at the present state of the cottages in
in the agricultural parishes, which I consider
filiZitient to meet the wants of • growing population.
Take for listener, the census from 1851 to 11161, and
you will and there has been no increase in many
polishes ' • and it is solely attributable, In my opinion, to
the wantof hoses to live in, and many good labourers
are under the necessity of taking house or lodgings in
the nearest town, where they have to pay a high rent
and walk miles to their work. Many do this during the
mummer month. when work is plentiful, but in the
winter when work' is abort they are driven to the
greatest extremities. I know it has been said, by
building more cottages in your parish, the population
would merges, end the poor'e-rate would it 01114411 also,
but this would be so very trifiing under the present
system of union rating that I do not think this argu-
ment bolds good ; the union being assessed alike for
the maintenance of the poor. We will now look it the
present state of some of the cottages, and the improve-
ments we think neoneary to be made. For some years
past upon many of the large estates in our wont, these
improve:woes have been carried out, by building new
Nese. of • more commotion, and better description,
adding greatly to the comfort of the poor. Still, there
Is • great deal more that ought to be done, as in many
cease the old °Steps have but one bedroom, and in the
majority only two; aid where the families are large
both Melee are obliged to aleep in the same bedroom,
which is a great evil. Every cottage should have three
bedrooms, and all other appliances for decency,
which would improve very mach the moods and
health of the labouring classes. There is another Im-
provement I think would greatly add to the comfort
of old people alter they are receiving pariah pay. At
present these old people must either receive out-door
relief, and live with their children or friends, or go
to the union work-house. The former they always
prefer If posible, as they term the latter a prison, the
man and his wife being sepsated after having lived
perhaps 40 or 50 years together. Still, these old
people are adding to the family, the houses being
generally in a crowded state before. In this see I will
regret • plan, obiott I think, if carried out, would
add greatly to their comfort, and, that is, to build small
oottages of two rooms on the same floir,one for &sitting
and the other • bedroom, with small offices attached,
and a little garden, and call it charity or alms bowls,
the overseers of the parish to have the sole control of
them, to put deserving old people in, rent-free, for
their lives. We will now come to our subject, vie., on
isottage accommodation on fermi. In many cases these
are sufficient for the use of the farm, in unary others
only two or three ant allowed for the carters and
shepherds, and I know a few cams where even thew are
withheld. For some years pest many of our large landed
proprietors thought it expedieet for the good of the
farm labourer to take the cottages (with the exception
of the two or three before named) and let them at •
tow rent to the labourers, so that the men should be
independent of any particular masters, and get his work
at the best market. I will give those gentlemen fall
coedit for their philanthropy, but I think 1 shall be
able to prove that the labourer has not been benvited
by the change. We will now consider whether it is
an advantage for men to hire their cottages, or to have
them rent free found by the employers. Take, first, the
man that hires his oottage, and depends for his work at
the best market, and make a calculation of his earnings.
The first six months from Ladyellay to Michaelmas I
calculate (if a good workman) 12, per week, from
bliehaeluse to Lady-day Its., making an average of
10s. 6d. per week for the year. lie will have to pay at
Leas t, 24 per week for house rent, fuel, and ratn,leasing
les. 6d. per week for his maintenance. This, I believe,
lo be rip 43 the general average of wages for oet-door
labourers,as thereerillbeseveral weeks lost by bad weather
and other things,and not always certain of getting work.
Ilike another instance of • man renting his house. This
man may hire himself for a year as a general labourer
at 10s. per week, als. and his liquor extra for harvest.
This man will have to pay his rest and rates, and also
to buy fuel, which will leave him barely with 9a. per
week. This man, however, I think batter off than the
man always depending on the labour market, as he tuts
hla regular pay, and loans no time hem bad weather.
The two oases that I have brought before you will not
apply generally to all men renting their cottages, as
there are some, who for want of skill and persverans,
einnot earn the snips first described, and others will
not hire themselves by the year; oensequently. during
the winter, they are often oat of wotle. and poaching
and petty thieving are resorted to. We will uow take
the case of the yearly servant, who is provided with his
house on the farm, lie is hired for a year at S.. per
week common work, to have pies work, such a. hedging,
drawing, mowing, reaping, and turnip hoeing, which
will add from le to 2.. per week more to his wages ;

, .
this, however, must depend on the man, as some will
earn much more at piece work than other. ; to have his
grist—from two to four bushels of wheat per month,
according to his working farnily. at 50. per bushel,
cottage garden, and rates free, fuel, inch as furze or
wood faggots for cutting, and generally coal. given to
some extent, front 2. to 31) lug of potato land, the
ground
prepared for planting without pay, and liquor
found him for the year. This, I calculate, is equal to
124. or Ids. per week, besides all the comforts arising
from taking his meals in his house, and being always
near his work. In many Canaal gristing is not allowed,
and la. per week more is given in wages, but the men
In general prefer the former, as they have their wheat
at (on an average) Id. per pound, and their bread is
much better for family purposes. These men. I e .nsider,
are 2s. per week better off than men renting their
cottage., and drpending on the labour market. We
will now look at the disadvantages that both the occupier
of land and the labourers are under (in too many case.)
for wan t of oottageacoommodation to seenuenurtain labour
for the whole year. We all know that good farming
cannot be carried on without sufficient manual labour,
and eertsin labour cannot be secured without cottages
for the MOO to live in, attached to the farm, or, in the
parish. We w,ll take, for instance, a fsrm requiring 10
cottages, sod it lam only eve; the consequence is you
must fill those houses with large workiLg fanobes if

posaible, who, in many eases, are crowded together
revirdleas of commou decensy. It also reuses 000stant
change, because as the young men grow up, they leave
their father to look out for themselves or get married.
Tire consequence is you lose a good young man for
want of • cottage to put hint in, and the father is
obliged to leave t o, as his family is not large enough;
so • constant changer. going on yearly, which is a great
disadvantage to both parties. Take another instance,
there are farms situated • mile or more from any parish,
with only two or three cottages (and I know omits of
thi• sort) ; the farmer must then depend on the neigh-
bouring parishes for his labourers. We will allow there
are plenty then to be got and they are hired at an
extra Is. per week ; these men will have to walk • mile
every morning and every night, which will take one
boor every day, or 313 houn extra time and 626 miles
extra to walk during the year, more than the men living
on the fans. These labourers, however, are very
uncertain, mad the farmers are frequently put to great
inconveniences in the summer, when the men can get
work Deana home. We will now oonsider the general
effect on the labourers, farmers, and landlords, of having
sufficient pottage. attached to the farms. Take the
Labourers first. There cannot be a doubt but every man
should be near his work and confortably hotbed. The
advantage he derive. is oce of the greatest luxuries of
his life. He takes his meals at home with his family
by the fireside, and, when wet and tired, be is Dee/ his
hones. Another advantage he has, lithe time he can
spend in his garden during the spring and summer
months, more than the man that has to walk to and
fro to his work. The farmer derives the benefit of
having certain labour without fluctuation, the work of
the firm going on regularly, his men and their families
being near, he has an opportunity of observing their
general eociduat and &leo sedating them in sickness,
and in •arious other ways adding to their comfort
But here, I must oheerve, he does not get his labour
cheaper, as the reneges are filled for the spring and the
summer months, but in the winter there is in general
niore than is really required for the ordinary work of
the farm. The landlord, by building cottages, and
letting them with the farms, would aloe derive greet
advantages, as I believe every farm, with proper pottage
aceoroodation is worth 10 per cent, more than it is
without it, besides having his farm cultivated in •
much better way. Let us now see what number 4
eolitelee (in our opinion), is required for every 100 acres.
This mint depend in a great measure, whether it is an
arable or pasture form, the former requiring consider-
abl/ more labour than the latter, therefore there can
ho general rule laid down • small farms also require
more in proportion than larger holdinga. We will,
however, take an amble aad sheep farm of 400 acres
and epwerge Them farm., I calculate, ought to have
at least two cottages to every one hundred sores at the
command of the tensor This, I think woeld be
aafficiene coyly on all he ordinary work of the farm,
with some extra men for harvest, ne. I have now
endeavoured to bring before yo, the
principal
paints
on which this subject beers, and have put my ideas in
ea few words as plausible, so that aa much tune as we
have should be spent in observations to be made by the
members present. But, before I close, 1 moat make •
few remarks on a paper that was read by the Hee.
Canon Girdleetene at the British Association for the
advancement of so enee, and wag publietred is the
Tier.. of August 22nd. which I ask you all to read, if
you have not done so, and form your own estimate '
of it, worth, as 1 cannot go through Um whole, but
will confine myself to two point., via, the cottage
system he recommends, end egriculturel labourers'
unions. I perfectly •fre• with the rev, gentlemen ors
what he says napecting the way cottages ought to he
built, but certainly not of the way they ought to be let.
He any. "Such houses to be in the ciontrel of
the landowners rather than the farmers." Now,

_ . -•--.
'opposing this was generally adopted, what effect
would it bare on agriculture! The first thing would be
the farmer would only be • joint occupier, with, say,
ten °tiltr tenants around Min, who would go and do SI
they liked at any time of the year for their labour. The
fernier may go to hi, stable in the morning. to find no
gaiter there ; or to his cheep-told, and DO shepherd ; and
▪ on. The erimisquenoe woold be, the whole routine of
bia term oreraipp a would be stopped, and intuit remain
so till other men weld be got. Agriculture out never
go on under such a tymeei, as oopital would be with-
drawn, the farmer haring no cionfldenes in his men,
improvements thus /ald aside, and the land net half
mityynt.d. Mr. Cbrdlestosie Men gom on to eay,
" Urbane:id Libation' Unless, of oddly !notedlye
obscoolor, aid well guarded ogaloot lotioddation to

.

wither !implore' or fellow workman, might he farmed •
With advantage." Now, gentlemen, we have all aeon
for years purr the ill effects of trades unhook by their I
wwilowl strike; trade stopped for • time, and the mem •
half starved before both parties ma souse to W.
But, when the.. strikes take plate in trade, the matters I
have nothing to do hot to look up their mills, or their '
shop.; their stook is safe, Lod will keep good. But
what would be the situation of the fanner if • strike •
alteeldtake *me with the labourers, jest at the time
of the 11.7 rind corn harvests, which 17 • week's delay
may bean spoiled? He would have no alternative but
to submit to the terms laid down by tbia men, during
the harvest. But, what would follow? I will tell you.
Half the men would be discharged during the winter
months, and the greatest distress would ensue, se all
the good feeling which now exists between the employer
and employed would best an end. The rev. patleman's
remarks on the labour eueetion were also worthy of
attention. He did not touch that pert of the subject
es it was to be considered at the nest meeting, but he
hoped the members would reed Hr. Girdlestoce'speper,
and he had no doubt that at the next meetiag tbey
would be able to prove that be (the Canon) was
very much out in his calculations as to the wage. rid,
in the West of England, for it was the West of Eno ""
to which be particularly ramrod. He thought it
would be very much better if Canon Girdle.tone
were to try to reform those of his own cloth, instead of •
interfering in the way he was now doing riloP"WieS the
apiculturol labourer—(hear, bear)--ood he thought
thesooner the rev. gentleman could do that the better.
A feeling of confidence now subsisted between the land•
lord. Lad the farmer, and the labourer, but If men
would go about giving lectures Lod reading ImPorse
tending to make lb* labourer disestisfied, it would
effect much mischief, and thiop could not CO is
the oornfortoble way they were now doing. Their
labour books would show that the amount expended
for labour was increasing 'eery year. The extending
wol of maehinery for egrioultural purposes had not
diminished the need for manual labour, and, therefore,
they required just as many cottages as before—(hear,
hear).
In the diecussioo whirl followed, cordial eoneurrenoe
ei monifeefed with the gscetslviiweexpneedhitbi
leenror, and some sow posiotv were Mortared upon.
Mr. GINOi said there could be no doubt in the mind
of any reasonable man that cottages should be situated
on the farm, and should be under the control of the
tenant. In the /building of cottage* he thought
comfort was often sacrificed to appmranoe, and, speak-
ing of those on bis own form be pointed out that
though ono passing them might call titan miserable'
looking places they were • good deal better inside
than many new cottages, in which too often there is
"scarcely room to swing • cat." As to repairs, half
were done by the topsoil, the landlord finding the
materials, which he thought fair, for then the
tenant was interested in seeing there was no entrees-
gent outlay, while it would be his fault if
they were not kept water-tight and oom-
fortable for his labourers. He had not the pleasure
of knowing Canon Girdlestone, but, judging from what
appeared in the public prints, it seemed the rev. gentle-
man was most mischievous in his conduct, and seemed
ignorant of the duty of a clergyman—to stay at home
and mind his own business, but he went to the casters
part of the eountry, and told them what was certainly
untrue as to what was done in the west. He suggested
that the secretory should write to Canon Glrille.tone,
telling him there was • meeting of the slob on Jan. 2
to discuss the condition et the agricultural labourer, and
inviting him to attend—(hear, hear). If be (the canon)
was • straightforward man they could teach him what
he evidently did not know at present, and if bethought
they (the farmers) wanted improving let him come and
tell them so I—(hear, hear). Labourers living in towns
was most ohjectiocable, and the rents they had to pay
were enormous. He referred to Fordington, and said
that • widow with two children would receive from the
parish 4.. a week and three loaves, and have to pay 2a.
or 2a. 6.1. for the house (? the room) shell,., in. This
he thought • great hardship. But labourers living on
the farm, with oeustont employment, and good cottages
supplied by the tenant, were, he thought, as well off as
they are in slinost any county in England— (hear, hear).
Mr. WHITTLE pointed out that the want of good
cottages materially affected their profits, as it prevented
their getting the beet labourers.
Mr. It. if. Esher said that though not engaged in
forming, the condition of the labourer, and especially in
regard to his home, was • subject in which he felt cion•
adorable interest. Qoartions as to improved machinery,
the better growth of roots, and the superior breeding of
rattle, were all important in their way ; but, after all,
the flesh and blood, the bones and sinews of our fellow
men, were the Hale: consideration, and anything tending
to improve the condition of the labourer, in his home
particularly and the few comfort. he did posies*, most
be of the greatest importance—a matter they were all
interested in, and one they would do what they could
to promote—(hear, hear). There seemed to him to be
one or two leading points they were all agreed on. First,
that every farm should have adoluate cottage accommo-
dation provaled on it for the necesaary labour. These
cottages should be fit for human Wept* live in. Great
improvements had been made of late years in this
respect, yet be had no doubt many of them had seen
and, perhaps, met with, cottages which were really unfit
for beasts to live in. During the past summer he was
paroling through • village in this county where three
cottages had just before been burnt down. It seemed
impossible families could have lived in the small spots
left after the rubbish was neared away. A house (!)
bad stood on a bit of ground scarcely twelve feetsquare.
It had one room on the ground floor and oos above,
and wai occupied by • man and bis wife and six children I
In such place. there could be no decency awl very little
morality. Perhape on another occasion Dr. Aldridge
would tell them the apace required for health.
He believed the Poor Law allowed 300 *obi feet for
every pauper, and 5110 for an invalid. At the convict
prisons the breathing space was much lareer,be believed
to the extent ot 1,000 feet. He feared that • very large
proportion of the labourer.' cottages would fall eon.
sidersbly below that amount—(heaohear and laughter).
It should be remembered too that when • large family
was confined in • small room for 6,8, or 10 hones
each day. breething the same atmosphere, it entailed a
diminution of pbysical power, and, therefore, they did
not get the same amount of work out of the labourer as
they would if he had a cottage having such accommodo.
tion that he got plenty of fresh air. Another thing
rimmed to be very necessary, viz., that there should be
• strip of garden attached to each cottage. It seemed to
him there eosin be no greater indueement to a man to
keep from the public-house than a bit of garden wherein
he might employ his leisure hours. As to the means
by which improvements in oottage accommodation could
be effected, many thingi might suggest themselves to
their minds. The principle of es-operation, eirber by
building societies or in some other way, seemed • very
fesolible plan. It hat been tried, and in some
plum it was succooful, bat in others not so, in
a pecuniary point of new, Or it might be
done by borrowing money in the same way as for
drainage works, and soros I over • number of years.
He thought Cot by ventilating this subject publicly, it
would be brought to liar on the landowner sad those
whose duty it is to erect cottages and to provide for the
comfort and deeency of On labouring poor—(hissr, hem).
Mr. H. Doosti °beer...a that a good cottage could not
be built for less than DO or £lOO, and that outlay would
bear but very poor interest; but, he held, it was •
positive duty of landowner. to provide cottages for Ile
labourers employed on the land. He spoke of Mr.
Start, Mr. &prier. and others having nobly done what
was right in this respect.
Mr. LOCK, of Kingston, said that when he took his
farts he bed but four miserable cottages, two with one
bedroom each, and the others having two bedrooms
each; but now he had nearly completed six pottage.
with three bedrooms eath, and two with one each, so as
to accommodate all the labourers he required.
Dr. A oDHIDOI expressed gratification Viet the subject
had been brought forward, and, adverting to the
President's suggestion that parish houses should be
provided for the aged poor, observed that it had
occurred to him that the prompt Union house might be
usefully appropriated to such • purpose I it wae built
on. 300 Inmates, and now contained only shout 40. He
spoke of the unwillingness of the aged poor tor go to the
union under the present system, and meld be had known
cases where old people had starved and died rather than
become inmates of it. Labourers required good atten-
tion o,cougo through excessive labour in early life their
physical powers were sooner elbousted than in any
other el.&

In answer to Mr. Whittle, Dr. A LDIUDGR said he did
not mean to say the early labour of agricultural
labourers lessened longevity, but that it enfeebled
and debilitated the muscular structure of the body, and
thus it was • common thing to seen labourer of 40 or
BO years walking bent and decrepit as an old man.
Mr. WHITTLE ronarked that the Commissioners on
tit: employment or children came to the conclusion that
their work in the agricultural districts was not
unhealthy, but it was so in the manufacturing districts.
Mr. lloPois pointed out, in an able speech, that
legislation la accountable to a great extent for the evils
they now lamented and wished to see redressed. At
length he described the old law, when the chargeability
of the poor was on the parish wham they resided,
indicated the beginning of improvements the Union
chargeability Puss brought about, and expatiated on the
importance and advantages of the labourers being pro-
vidrd with good cottages claw to their work.
After a few remarks from Mr. T. C. &tinders, the
President trite] replied. and the PTOOEadiEP eiceed
with • medial vote of thanks to the lecturer.
Professor Buckman is expected to give the melt
lecture on Jan. 2, on "The Dorset Labourer."