31 MAY 1873, Page 12

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE FARM LABOURERS' PARLIAMENT.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.]

Sia,—The proceedings of yesterday and to-day at Leamington afford abundant confirmation, if any was necessary, of the reality and extent of the organisation of Farm Labourers which is known by the name of the National Agricultural Labourers' Union. Delegates were present to the number of about seventy, from the various parts of the country where district associations have been formed. The following list of places and counties were repre- sented (which is by no means a full one) is a sufficient guarantee of the extent of ground that is now covered by the National Union :—North and South Essex, Northamptonshire, Kidder- minster, Norwich, Dorset, Glemsford, Wisbeach, Banbury, Swaffharn, West Suffolk, South Bedfordshire and Herts, Glou- cestershire, Fareham, East Dereham, Market Harborougb, Wan- tage, Alton (Hants), Worcestershire, Old Buckenham, West Kent and adjoining counties, Cirencester and Somersetshire. A considerable majority of the delegates bore on their counten- ances unmistakable proof of the nature of their employment, though a few of the districts appeared to have preferred being represented at Leamington by their treasurers or secretaries, who are not unfrequently small tradesmen. Mr. Dixon, M.P., again presided, and the conference was held in the same building as that wherein the National Union was first formed in May of last year,—a spacious wooden circus, very commodious, it is true, but otherwise draughty and unsuitable. But beyond these two marks of identity there was but little in common between the two conferences. Last year the assembly was new to its work, and to fully three-fourths of the members it was probably the first public discussion in which they had taken part. The debates were in consequence of a most original description, for no matter what particular detail of business was at the moment being discussed, the representative labourer no sooner found himself on his legs, than he launched forth into descriptions of his personal sufferings, or of the privations of others that had come to his knowledge. But this year, though many of the same faces again appeared, there was clear proof of the educational process that the delegates themselves have been going through at their numerous public meetings and private committees throughout the twelvemonth. The mysteries of amendments, riders, and resolutions had been mastered thoroughly by no inconsiderable number, and the diverse- ness of dialect and quaint uncouthness of expression had vanished to no small extent. The interest of the curious observer or of the mere admirer of picturesque combinations would be much blunted, but the well-wisher to the cause could not fail to prefer the practical to the original, when the improved tone and manner of the discussion were so strikingly apparent.

Immediately after the conclusion of the Chairman's address, Mr. Arch moved that the programme of the business be suspended, for the adoption of a resolution relative to the Chipping Norton deci- sion. So deep and burning was the feeling of indignation expressed amongst the knots of delegates and their friends who were gathered together at the corners of the streets and elsewhere before the conference was opened, that it was felt by the leaders that it would be impossible to get to business till the field bad been cleared by an expression of opinion on what was felt by all to be the question of the moment. Mr. Arch accordingly moved the following resolution, in a few brief, but stinging words, and it was appropriately seconded by the delegate for the district :—" That this conference is desirous of suspending its further proceedings until it has signified its abhorrence of the conduct of the Chipping Norton magistrates, the Rev. T. Harris and the Rev. W. E. D. Carter, in straining the law to commit sixteen women with hard labour to Oxford Gaol, for an act that they were unaware was illegal ; that this conference further expresses its strong disapproval of that tyrannical piece of class legislation under which these women suffered—the Criminal Law Amendment Act—and call for its instant repeal ; it also considers that the Chipping Norton decision affords another proof of the necessity for the general appointment throughout the country of stipendiary magistrates, without which the agricultural labourers are convinced that they cannot obtain justice." The clear and deliberate tones in which Mr. Arch read this resolution, amidst almost breathless silence, brought out into still stronger relief the vehement applause that burst forth at its conclusion. As it subsided, a voice exclaimed, " Ah ! stipendiary magistrates, that's the thing,"—a remark which reawakened the cheers with redoubled force. I have no hesitation in saying, from conversation with a large number of delegates, that the first question, beyond all comparison, in the labourer's mind at the present moment is the removal of the unpaid magistracy. Every county, almost every petty-sessional dis- trict, to which the Union has extended, appears to have its own tale to tell of what they consider to,C.:e the unfairness of the squires who sit in judgment on them. This feeling has long been smouldering in many a country district in connection with the Game Laws, but it now almost threatens to leap forth into active demonstration, owing to the decisions, week by week, in connec- tion with the Masters and Servants' Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act. The Labourers' Union Chronicle was recently described by a gentleman, himself a magistrate and a deputy- lieutenant of his county, as "the County Justices' pillory," and no little of the present feeling can no doubt be traced to the out- spoken, but, I believe, always fair reports of magistrates' doings in connection with labour cases. The Chipping Norton decision 'has, of course, somewhat brought these matters to a head ; but quite independently of that case, there was no little indignation expressed at the idea of expecting impartiality at the hands of those who never lose an opportunity to assert their detestation of the Union. I may here state that I ascertained beyond a doubt the truthfulness of the statement as to the Chipping Norton case arising out of a lock-out, and not out of a strike. The history of the village of Ascott for the past five years, the village where the sixteen women lived, is almost incredible in its details of tyranny on the one hand, and suffering on the other ; I believe that it will -shortly reach the public on unimpeachable testimony. A sub- scription for the relief of the families of these women, all of whom, with but one exception, were married, was opened at the evening meeting, beaded by Mr. Dixon, M.P.

The annual report showed that there are now 71,835 enrolled members of the Union, in 982 branches, extending throughout 24 counties. The newly elected executive committee, consisting of twelve men, all of whom are bond fide farm labourers, will be far more representative in its character than the old one, which was of necessity composed in the main of Warwickshire men. Warwickshire still holds the post of honour in having three repre- sentatives, but the remaining nine come from Gloucestershire, Hereford, Oxford, Lincoln, Cambridge, Hampshire, Suffolk, Leicester, and Northamptonshire. The National will henceforth -escape the slur thrown upon it, by the pigmy Unions that have not yet entered into alliance, of being a purely Warwickshire move- ment.

The chief points of interest in connection with the second day's sit- ing were the passing of a resolution expressive of sympathy with the Irish labourers, and approving of the extension of the Union to that country, where it has already taken fast hold, and the estab- lishment of a well-considered Sick Benefit Society in connection with the National Agricultural Labourers' Union. Mr. J. A. Campbell, a Warwickshire magistrate, presided on the second day, and was very severe in his condemnation of his clerical brother justices of Oxfordshire ; at least two other magis- trates of the Consultative Committee were present, and nothing occurred throughout the whole course of the proceedings that even savoured of a revolutionary tone. It is true that the labourers feel'more on their feet than they did last year, but happily their strengthened and now almost impregnable position does not seem to have inspired them with aught more dangerous than a con- sciousness of their growing strength. There does not appear to be any fear at present of the labourers slipping from the grasp of the manly and conscientious leaders of their own class, but it is earnestly to be hoped that their patience will not be again so severely tested as it was last week at Chipping-Norton.—I am, Sir, &c.,