[To the Editor of the SpnerA.Ton.] SIR, —Your correspondent, Mr. Edward
Coward (Spectator, December 8th), thinks " Mr. Boving's constructive proposals are of no value." He makes a small one of his own—" that during haytime and harvest men should work on Saturday afternoons at the ordinary rate of wage per hour—not at overtime rate," Let us see the value of this suggestion. In this county the statutory payment for overtime in excess of ordinary time is 2d. per hour. If six hours we..e worked at overtime rate the cost would be l s. per man per week. As I employ ten men, and hay and harvest last, say, six weeks, the cost of overtime to me is £3 for the season. I agree with. Mr. Coward that his constructive suggestion is a " small " one. As I do not ask the men to work overtime unless the weather is favourable, I get very good value for my money.
Mr. Coward has advised farmers to spend less time at markets. I wonder if he saw, in the Times a few weeks. ago a letter from an Eastern Counties farmer, name and address given, who wrote : " I attend several markets every week, including Chelmsford." The saving of overtime would not go far to meet his market expenses.—I am, Sir, &c., Kineton, Wanviche .
ERNEST FARR&
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