The Standard of last Saturday described an extraordinary strike among
the men on the West Ham Distress Committee's farm colony at Ockendon. According to the official report, the average rate of pay at this colony, which is supported by the rates, is 22s. Id. for a week of forty-eight hours. The colonists considered that they were badly fed out of the Be. 50. allotted from their wages to their maintenance and travelling expenses. Porridge had been substituted for coffee at breakfast, and there were no sweet or milk puddings "except when the Committee came down." The strikers also complained that the concerts were falling off,—we are not sure whether in quality or quantity. The Easter holiday, during which they had no doubt reflected on their wrongs, was just over when they were told that they would have to work a quarter of an hour longer daily. This is the common increase of work among agricultural labourers as the days grow longer. It was then that forty-eight out of the ninety colonists struck. The superintendent asked them to leave, and paid their fares to Plaistow. It is only fair to note that the superintendent thus made no concession to such a ridiculous protest ; but a strike of this sort is nevertheless a singular comment on Socialistic administration. The Poor Law Report of 1834 laid it down that the conditions of life for State-kept paupers must not be superior to the lowest standard of life among self-supporting labourers. So long as that principle is violated pauperism will grow, and loafers will be tempted to believe that they have real grievances if they do not live more comfortably than thousands of their self-supporting fellow- men who not only work hard, but help to pay for those who do not.
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