HOP-PICKING REVELATIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2705, 8 January 1910, Page 3 (Supplement)

HOP-PICKING REVELATIONS.

STRIKES, SICKNESS, ACCIDENTS

AND DEATHS

SHAMEFUL TREATMENT OF AVOMEN AND CHILDREN.

In view of tlio Mayor of Dudley’s recent defence of the system under which hop-pickcrs aro housed, a report ruiv nislied by the special correspondent of an English paper, is of interest. Tins week (he says) closes one of the worst seasons ever experienced by lion-picker,s in the counties of AVorcester and Hereford. The cold aiid rain have added considerably to the distressed conditions among tlie women and children. In every direction one could hear of some dispute with the hop-grower, perhaps ■over the rate- of pay, or liis neglect to provide sufficient straw for beds or burden for .covering. Others objected to sleep in cart and wagon sheds, with a bagging curtain in front as a wall to “protect” them from the cold and rain, while many used bad language to ease tlieir minds for having to sleep in barns as closely packed together as small herrings in tin boxes. At- on-o farm one hundred Nctherton women gave the farmer a serenading because be demanded seven bushels of hops to be picked for a shilling, which they declared was not a “living” wage. The women clamored for moro straw and bed clothes, but were refused—in fact, ordered off the ground. The women found themselves- “dead beat,” so to speak. They had no money, and could -not walk home with the children, a distance of 36 miles. So it was decided to make a “final” show of indignation. Some long sticks were procured, and the miserable strips of burden (bedclothes) were fastened thereto. Then began the serenade in front of the farmer’s house. There was booing and shouting, whistling and singing. "Com© and give us some more bedclothes!” “Look wliat we’ve got!” “You ought to sleep in the pigholes with, these rags yourself!” and sundry other exclamations were gustily forwarded to the ears of those of the household. The farmer, however, was deaf to tho appeal*; the crowd moved away, and on the morrow commenced to work at the "starvation” price refused three- days before. To my mind there ivas justification in tho behaviour of these folk. It is too much to expect to have seven bushels of small hops to. be picked for a shilling. Besides farmers ought to let neople know the terms of engagement before leaving their homos.' For farmers to entice poor people thirty and forty miles from home, under favorable impressions, and keep them in suspense three or four days before stating tlie terms of picking, is very unbusinesslike. By that time the poor wretches have spent their last coin. The farmer is aware of his power and the pickers’ weakness. H e is not slow to take advantage. This applies to the hopping industry generally.

Jf the Hop-Growers’ Association will pay attention to this question it will save much misery and suffering caused by strikes, which have been unusually numerous this year. The association might also discuss to advantage the oroper housing of the pickers. I be- ' ieve the farmers prefer even slumdwellers to tramps to pick their bops. That being so, surely the castaways of our towns deserve to bo boused in a manner equal to tlieir station in life. The tramp is a detestable being, and society would relegate him to anywhere. Who would -fitter a word of complaint if he were stowed away in stable, barn, or nigsty, as the farmer treats his respected' animals ? But the townspeople are entitled to bo treated as human beings, and not “housed” as cattle and razed to tlieir level generally. It will be interesting to the readers of the “Mail” if I give a little light on how 59 farmers do “house” the pickers. Here is the list: —19 sleep and live in farm buildings, 5 in barracks, 1 in tents, 2 in old cottages, 2 in farm buildings and tents. 26 in farm buildings and barracks, and 4 in tents and farm buildings. _ A description of some of these buildings, etc., will, no doubt, make further interesting reading Farm 1.—150 Birmingham people at this farm. Young women predominated. There were, however, about 40 men. Tlie whole party belonged to the lowest- typo of the city’s residents. They slept in tents pitched in a field, with straw placed on the grass for beds and a modest allowance of burden fer bedclpthos. The tents,' lam told, are made for hop-pickers from defective army tents, and “rain in.” The city people were very dissatisfied with their “lot.” Had been unsuccessful in their opposition to the farmer’s demand that they pick seven bushels of hops for a shilling. Farm 2. —200 Quarry Bank women and children were “housed”' at this farm in the barn, stables, and wagon sheds. People complained 'about exposure to the cold in the latter places. Some bagging, in the shape of a curtain. was hung in front of the slieds to keep the cold and. rain out. Farm 3.—200 Netherton and Walsall people here. Occupied stableS, lofts, and barracks. Very little straw allowed for bedding, and insufficient burden supplied to resist the cold at night. The treatment and severe weather was the cause of a boy having an attack of pneumonia. He- had been sleeping on a shelf in) a gateway exposed to the cold. Had to be removed to his home. Other children suffered by exposure at this farm. By appearance and from the disgusting - smell, the barracks, or wooden sheds, had been, used as piggeries.

Farm 4. —80 Woodside people “housed” in stabling and barn. Complaints respecting insufficient straw for beds and “bed clothes.” In consequence of lack of convenience for cooking, a baby was- scalded, and another burned. The children suffered considerably through want of proper attention and remedies to sooth and heal the wounds. A child was taken ill, removed to its home, and died a few days later. A woman and her daughter worked a whole day picking hops, to earn one shilling. * Farm 5.—200 Old Sill and Langley people were wroth with the owner of this farm. They went on strike, and he ordered, them off the ground unless work was resumed at his terms. He had his way. Tlie “housing” at- this farm was disgraceful. Every nook and corner' of the old buildings was made

use. of for sleeping and cooking purposes. Single young men occupied the same apartments as married and unmarried women. Not even a piece' of bagging was brought into use to "separate” the sexes in these buildings. A large shod was used by 40 men and women (old and young), who slept in rows, on straw, as they pleased. Seven or eight families had small pigsties for day and! night use. It would be a strange sight for those persons who are unaccustomed to hop-picking conditions to witness a man and woman stoop and crawl into these sties at night to sleep on a litter of straw, iust in the same way as a "porker” would do. Even tlie front walls of these buildings were dilapidated. Farm 6. —130 Bromsgrove people lived and slept in stabling and piggeries at this farm. To reach the piggeries the neople had to wade through tons of foul liquid and manure. The whole party—which consisted of many men—was very rough indeed, and apparently slept together quite regardless of decency. Fifteen and twenty persons occupied some of the stables. There was only one shed for cooking purposes. Uarm 7. —100 Netkerton women -and children were "housed” in every stable and building on this farm. The people complained of overcrowding. As many as forty persons slept in one stall, although it wa s stated by a picker to an official that its occupiers numbered only ten! There was next to no accommodation. for cooking, and tlie water for domestic purposes, 1 was assured, came from a brook said have been condemned for such uses. "Hopping’ ’ is so much in the nature of a section of tho Black Country people that they believe the fresh air (!) of a stable or a pigsty or drinking contaminated water is as "sure” a remedy for sickness or disease as any “holy” liquid ever yet discovered. A mother took her boy to this farm direct from a hospital, where he had liad an operation for appendicitis, to “do him good.” I am pleased to report that Providence in His goodness lias spared the lad- — he is alive!

Farm 8. —Cradley people wore provided for here in the farm buildings, which were limewashed. An epidemic of measles broke cut. One child died. This, I think, is a sufficient number of examples of what life is like with the hop-grower to prove to readers that something is needed to be done to raise the standard to wliat might be reasonably expected in any recognised industry’ in this country. Indeed, it will be seen that the “housing” accommodation provided has not exceeded that of the beast. True, many of the liop-pick-ers are tlie dregs of tlie towns, but even the slums are villadoms compared with the wretched hovels provided by the farmers.