The Westminster Gazette of Tuesday publishes a very interesting chat
with an agricultural labourer, which goes far to confirm the official report that the material condition of the rural worker has everywhere improved. The old 'labourer, when interviewed, declared that not only were wages better-13s. a week against 9s.—but that " things is a lump cheaper." "Food," he went on, "is cheaper, and clothes is 'ail as cheap agin as they was then. I can git a pair of boots or a suit of clothes—and just as good, too; last me just as long, beside their 'aving a better look now to wet they used to "ave—for 'arf the money as I could in them times." Another advantage is the possibility nowadays of getting land for allot- ments. "No," said he, in conclusion, "us labourers is better off 'than we was. A man's young 'uns is eddicated, and 'is missis -don't 'a to turn out into the fields, and 'e gits 'is allotment and letter money, and 'e can git more for 'is money than 'e could. The landlords can say as they're wuss off if they like. We ain't." We believe that is truth. No doubt, as the old labourer went on to say, things might easily be better still, but that there has been a real improvement we cannot doubt. But then, Heaven knows, it was needed. Think what it meant to keep a large family on 9s. a week, and everything you bought dear and bad !
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