ABSTRACT
EKPLOYDNT. THE Agricultural Gazette says, on the subject of the hirings of farm servants in tne north of England, which take place at Whitsuntide and Martinmas: "Both male and female servants are hired for the half year, and they live in the house of their employer, receiving board,
lod~g, and washing, and so much money for the six monthS, payable at the expiration of the engagement. They are required to work well, and consequently their employers, as a rule, realise that they must live well The diet is plain, but strengthening; and they are a hardy:, contented, and happy peasantry; labour agitations being as yet unknown amongst them. For years wages have been on the increase. With regard to women servants, the high wages they can command in gentlemen's and tradesmen's families, coupled with their easier work there, is year by year thinning the ranks of agricultural women servants, and, as a consequence, is yearly compelling farmers to pay higher rates." The Gazette proceeds to give the following rates :-" Appleby: Girls, from £6 to £8 the half-year; women, from £10 to £12. Brampton: The demand for women servants was brisk; dairy women, &c:, from £10 to £l11Os.; young girls, from £7 to £9 (the wages are calculated by the half-year). Carli8le: W' omen, £9 to £11. Coclcermoutlt: W OInen, £7 to .£10; girls, .£3 to £7. Pennth: First-class women servants, £11 lOs to £12 lOs.; second class, £8 to £10. Kendal: Female servants commanded from £7 to £15 for the half-year, the latter, of course, being exceptional. At Malton female servants very scarce; for the first time for many years these had to "stand the market," the Corn
E'Vent8 01 tile Motttlt. [ EDJlIalnromaD" a ........ Denmber 16th, lar .. Exchange not being open for their accommodation. (We are ignorant of the reason of this change; its hardship is manifest.) In Howden, Yorkshire, very young girls got £8 to £10; older ones, £15 up to £18 and £20, according to age and capabilities. Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting girls for farm houses where they had to milk. (It is a pity that we have not in England agricultural schools for women similar to those which have worked so well in Sweden. The healthy country life, though combined with hard bodily work, would be a welcome change to many of our little town-bred girls.)
'WOMEN DYERS AT PERTB.-Miss Lewin (Employment of 'Vomen's Office; 22, Berner's Street) writes:- 'Ve went to Messrs. Campbell, an older though. smaller establishment than Puller and Co. (who admit DO strangers) ; after waiting a few minut~s we were shown through various rooms where girls were stitching, folding, and ironing clothes, shawls, tablecovers, cushions, &c., of all colours. The rooms were well venti!ated,
EfJentl 01 tire Month. 565 and the girls looked healthy and very neat. About 160 girls were employed, earning from 5s. to 12s per week. In the linen factory of Messrs. Shields at Perth, many women are employed; the wages are higher, but the women are not 80 healthy looking. A few were tracing patterns, and we were told that some ,vere employed as designers.
