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which is believed to be very small . The incidental exp enses up to Sept . 1850 have been 561 ., which , having Cen occasioned to a great extent by the erection of the buildings , the committee think they cannot fairly be harffea to the farm account . They therefore date from a t 185 C and set down for the last two years the incij LftU at 531 , and the wages of the farm labourer , at ? fift * eek , 83 Z . ; total , 136 ^ "The report gives in the next place an estimate of the I ced value of the reclaimed land . In its unreclaimed e Jflte its . assumed value is 61 . per acre , which for the 19 acres reclaimed amounts to 114 ? ., adding to which 137 ? . for incidental expenses and farm labourers' wages , would t the cost 2511 . By this outlay the land is supposed to the value of 40 76 OL
tn be brought up Z . per acre , or m the aggregate , which leaves a credit of 509 ? . to set against the relief of the pauper labourers on the farm , besides the balance of 15 ? . odd arising from their labour in the process of farming , making together ' a sum which covers all the expenditure on manure , seed , rent , and superintendent ' s salary and rations . ' It is admitted that the aforesaid 509 ? . is not available to the funds of the union , simply because the land thus improved did not happen to be purchasable by the guardians ; but that fortuitous ciroumstanoo , it is contended , does not detract from the value of this experiment as a guide to other unions which may have the advantage of being able to purchase unreclaimed land in a eonvenient situation , and thereby giving to the union the entire profit arising from the
improve" After remarking upon the excessive cost of far less efficient labour tests , previously adopted in this union , the report proceeds to remark that the present scheme , while it converts waste land into valuable property worth 40 ? . an acre , it provides unlimited employment for any amount of surplus labour , and for a class of persons incapable of almost every other kind of work . "' It is true , ' continues the report , ' that your committee cannot show that the value of pauper labour here can be realized upon , but they think they can show a large amount of interest . '" The report then proceeds in substance
thus—1 . The union is possessed of . the large building and two acres of land , at the low rent of 4 ? . a year for upwards of 90 years ; also of 50 acres on a 21 years' lease at 4 * . per acre , and nearly double that area adjoining , secured to the union at the same low rental ; hence , by continually having 50 acres on lease , and sub-letting every acre ( when cleared ) beyond the quantity necessary for raising food for the workhouse , there will arise hereafter an annual return in the shape of rent for the benefit of the ratepayers . " ' The land already under culture is more than sufficient under ordinary circumstances to produce milk for the workhouse
inmates , and whilst bringing the waste land under culture for sub-letting you produce most of the produce required for the use of the workhouse establishment . '" 2 . A labour test is provided which not only deters the idle from seeking parish relief , but provides reputable and not unpleasant employment for the respectable artisan in times of bad trade , and affords recreative labour to the old and infirm , who would otherwise have to end their days immured in the workhouse . A number of minor advantages resulting from this union farm are given seriatim , with the particularization of which the report is brought to a close .
PROCEEDINGS AT THE FAEM . The main body of visitors to the farm left the George Inn , Market-place , at 25 minutes past ten in the forenoon , by a largo omnibus and several conveyances of smaller capacity . The day being beautifully fine , the outside places had been taken up with avidity . After a pleasant drive , the caravan , if we may so term it , arrived at Hollow Meadows a few minutes before noon . The party proceeded at once to the large refectory at the farm , and examined the diet of the paupor labourers , nearly a score of whom were then at dinner , imbibing their homely but nutritious fare in Beeming
contentment , side by side with the larger table already spread with the more dainty viands of the visitors . The dormitories and other apartments of the houso underwent inspection in turns , and evidence of cleanliness and comfort was everywhere observed . The party next sullied out of doors , and loisurely viewed the growing crops , of which we may state in general terms , that they presented a healthy , thriving appearance . Lord < Soderieh and the other strangers were particularly struck by the great contrast between the sterile aspect of the expanse of wild moorland and the fertile little iiirin which nestled in tlio midst , like an oasis in the
desert , and the effect upon their minds was not a little enhanced when informed that that most gratifying metamorphosis had been effected within the Hpaeo ol alnmt tlireo years . After commenting with great Hutisfiiction upon the crops , and quaffing draughts of aqua jrnra from a H |> urkliiig spring which Hiipplien the « 'Ht , al > liHUmeiit , the party Btrolled down to a piece of liiiul abutting upon the turnpike road , a little nl > ovo ti » e homestead , whero most of the pauper lubourerH were now engaged in the act of clearing and draining
a l > ortion of the yet unreclaimed land . They seemed to l > e , almost without excoption , a gang of invalids , » n « n whom no groat amount of labour could bu exjiccttMl ; but the burden appeared to be adapted to the ) ack with tho utmost consideration . The number of lulwHirerH at work was 25 . About a ttcoro of them were JVfmlont at the farm ; the others were undergoing the tout" of having to walk from and to tho workhoiiHo uly . The bracing moorland air and tho picturesque J'uidBcape » n ado it pleasant to tho urban party to btroll
about , and . gave greater interest to their novel occupation . But such was the oxygenic influence of the atmosphere upon the gastronomic' system , that the summons of the dinner bell at half-past one o ' clock was by no means an unwelcome sound . A dinner followed the inspection ; and appropriate toasts were proposed and spoken to after dinner . Mr . Groves , the Chairman , proposed " Success to the Hollow Meadows farm . " ( Loud cheers . ) It was very pleasing to think that there was such a place where their fellowtownsmen who from bad trade , or sickness , or
unavoidable misfortune of any other kind , might be sent , and where they might cam their own bread . It was certainly much less painful and less degrading than being in the workhouse . At that farm many drunkards had been reformed and many thoughtless characters had been led to reflection , and not a few had been made better sons , better fathers , and better citizens . There was nothing degrading in tilling the land , whereas the whole systems of labour—oakum picking and corn-grinding by the hand-mills—were both degrading and revolting . He hoped he should never see those mills restored . It was the sincere
desire of the board to carry out the land labour test effectually and without unnecessary expense , and being a united body he had no doubt of tlieir ultimate success . He felt bound to say that Mr . Watkinson , their clerk , had aided them very much with valuable information , and he had shown a laudable desire that the farm should be managed to the satisfaction of the ratepayers The chairman concluded by commending the toast , and it was drunk with a hearty good-will . When the " health of Viscount Goderich and the Poor Law Association" were proposed , Lord Goderich ¦
aid" Mr . Chairman and gentlemen : I was very much gratified when I received , two or three days ago , an invitation from the Sheffield board of guardians to be present here to-day ; and if I was very much gratified by that invitation I must feel still more flattered by the great kindness with which you have received me , and by the cordial manner in which you have been good enough now to drink my health . I fear I have done very little individually to deserve the credit that Mr . Saunders has been kind enough to lay to me . I certainly have been most desirous , if I could in any way benefit the poorer classes of my fellow-countrymen , either in parliament or out of parliament , that I should do so : and when mv attention was drawn , as it was
recently by a letter from Mr . C . Stark , the secretary of the Poor Law Association , to the principles of that association , it did seem to me that the- general principle upon which it was founded was one which was as likely as almost anything I had heard of to elevate , and I hope ultimately to remove , one of the greatest evils under which our country now suffers—the great and crushing load of pauperism . ( Loud cheers . ) I therefore had great pleasure in accepting Mr . Stark ' s proposition , and becoming a member of that association . That association , as I have said , is based upon a theory—the theory that it is safer and better to employ paupers reproductively than it is to shut them up in idleness in a workhouse —( cheers )—where , if they are
industrious men who in the great war of this world have not been able to find subsistence for a time , they would bo taught onl y to learn idleness and to unlearn the industry that their former life had taught them . If they are , on tho contrary , idle men who prefer tho workhouse to work ( because the workhouse is not a houso of work but a house of idleness ) , this will make tho workhouso tho thing they will most dislike , because if Mr . Saundors shuts them up in those deep drains they will rather take any work in Sheffield than hard work six miles off . But although tho theory of this institution appears very sound , theory iH in
itself very little , and in England especially , unless backed and supported by practice . Wo are a practical people . We liko facts , lt ' a no use to go to the boards of guardians throughout the country or to parliament and tell thorn that you have got a very good theory if they will but try it . If you can tell thorn one fact—if you cun say , ' Ono wet of men have- been bold enough to mako tho oxporimont , and that experiment has boon successful , that is worth all the theory in tho world . And therefore it waa that I was moHt anxious to bo present hero to-day . I camo hero to reeoivo instruction , and I . must say that tho instruction I havo received is most valuable and most
satisfactory . Ah far as ono experiment can go , I should say this experiment is conclusive . Ifc proves at least that under circumstances at all similar to those in which you aro hero placed , paupers innv bo reproduetivoly omploycd upon woHto land , by which the general produce and wealth or tho country is increased—that they may bo so employed profitably—and that ifc does not tnko long ( for you have boon only four years about it ) before that profit may bo actually realized . ( Cheers . ) And if that fact is of great imi ) or taiu : e in this country ifc is of still groator importance in roland . You havo there a poor-law which in its present stato it is impossible l . o work ; and therefore 1 am pleased
to find amongst tlio li » fc of moinborN of tlio poor-law association a largo number of members for the Irish count ion and others . It would bo HuporfluouH and impertinent in mo to enter into an explanation to you of tho honofitH ol a system which you havo yourselves been tho first to apply and to work ; but L ciumofc sit down without oppressing to you my admiration of tho noble manner in which you have made that experiment . I doubt not that you havo had groat difficulties to contend with , and that you have found Uioho difficulties amongst your fellow-countrymen and amon gt many of tho ratepayers of thia town . Jlut you have fought on through thoHO difficulties , and by your perBovoranco and your courage I boliovo I may Bay you
have conquered . ( Cheers . ) And I believe I may say it ia now an established fact that this system may be practically applied . ( Applause . ) The poor-law association has not drawn up any universal scheme . It has not entered , and I think it has wisely not entered , into any measure of detail . That must be for future consideration , and upon that subject there may be many differences . If when I entered I had any doubt that tne principle was sound I must say I am now convinced that it is sound . Therefore if my humble efforts in the House of Commons or otherwise can be of any use in the furtherance of that principle it will be my pleasure to assist in carrying ifc out . ( Cheers . )
Gentlemen , there is one little circumstance personal to myself that perhaps you will forgive me for alluding to — one which has made it very pleasant to me to be here today ; and that is , that I am always happy to be in an assembly of Yorkshiremen . ( Loud cheers . ) I happen to have a peculiar prejudice in favour of my own county . I hope ifc is not an unwise one . It is that which made ifc doubly pleasant and agreeable to my feelings that I should be elected by a large Yorkshire constituency , and it is that which makes me feel , as I do now , still more grateful for the kindness which you have shown me to-day . ( Great cheering . )"
Mr . Ironside proposed "Tlio Farm Committee . ' Poverty , he observed , arose principally from a want of self-denial , self-exertion , and self-reliance ; and it was the duty of those who had those qualities in a proper proportion to endeavour to restore them in those who were without them : — "As Lord Goderich had very appropriately observed , work-houses were now idle « houses . In accordance with the principle of the statute of Elizabeth , they are called work-houses , because the poor were to be set to work ; but in time they became idle-houses , Recently , however , a change had come o ' er the spirit of their dream , and tho Poor-law Association , of which mention had been made , was an attempt to restore the principle of the statute of
Elizabeth—to set the poor to work . ( Hear , hear . ) While those gentlemen had been theorizing , they the commonsense plain people of Sheffield , had been practicalizing . ( Hear , hear , ' and cheers . ) Now it was quite unnecessary for him to make a speech on this question . lie was an old radical , chartist , and socialist , of more than twenty years' standing . He knew Boberfc Owen , and all about ifc . ( Laughter . ) They , the socialists , determined they would regenerate mankind , and that they would do ifc by building a large hall in Hampshire . ( Continued laughter . ) He was proposed on the central board along with Eobert Owen , and at the first board meeting he and Kobert Owen had an argument on this very simple question . Mr . Owen wanted to put on the outside of the establishment some
tablets indicating what the building was for . As they were very poor he -tried to convince Mr . Owen that it was not advisable to spend 30 L or 40 Z . in putting inscriptions on tho wall . ¦ He failed to do so until he used thia argument : — 'Do you see that land on that hill ? And don't you think that if wo spend SOI . in muck to put into that land it will be better than putting an inscription on the wall ? ' That argument told , and no inscription was put there . ( Hear , hear . ) He ( Mr . Ironside ) was now going to show the non-necessity for his making a speech . His speech was on that hill—in the contrast between one side and the other of that valley in which they were now assembled . Before the establishment of this farm incendiarism was common . The magistrates had the
unp leasant duty over and over again of committing paupers for insubordination . That is now done away with . ( Cheers . ) We have no paupers now , and we shall never again have a larger number in proportion . Everybody is convinced that this is a real test . The only difference was , as to whether they should goon farming or reclaiming land . Ho would say , go on reclaiming land . They might farm as well as others farm , no doubt . When any ono said it was interfering with independent labour , ho replied , ' That ' s nothing to me . Jlavo wo produced a better population ? Uecau . se if we have , that in inevitable ; and you take your money-bag argument and throw it < o tho devil if you like ! ' ( Laughter . )"
Mr . GYowtlier returned thanks for the Farm Committee . Other speeches were made ; and the guest * returned to fSheflield .
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A UIJANO "DIFFICULTY . " Tiru last mail by the Enropa brings news of a probable rupture between the United States and lVru . A question has been raised us to the right of ownership of the Lobos Islands . Tin ; following letter in reference to this subject lias been published : — " Department of Slate , Washington , Juno f > , 1 H 52 . " Sir , — 1 have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the tirid hist ., inquiring whether citizens of the I Tinted States can take guano from tho Lobos Islands , which aro situated near tho count , of Peru , without infiwi ^ in ^ upon tho rights of tho citizens , or subjects , or ( Jovcrnni <> ut . of any other nation . In reply , I havo to inform you that if those islands should lie within the distance ! of a marine
league from the continent , or if , being further than that distance , should havo been discovered and occupied by Spain or b y Peru , the Peruvian ( Jovernineiil , would have a right to exclude therefrom tho vessels aiid citizens of other nations , except upon such conditions as it might think proper to prescribe . There can bo no doubt ( hat the titlo of Peru to ( lie Cliinclia Islands , wlionro guano is now chiefly taken , is founded upon the basis of discovery and occupancy . That article was taken from those inlands and used an a manure by the Peruvians anterior to tho conquest of Peru by Spain- It continued to bo ho taken and used throughout tho Spanish dominions in that country , and thin practice has been kept up to tho present day . Although those islands aro uninhahitablo , the custom of resorting to thorn from tlio neighbouring continent for tho
Untitled Article
August 28 , 1852 . ] . THE LEADER . 815
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 28, 1852, page 815, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1949/page/3/
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