Without a vote for the most part, without an all-embracing organisationfor the Union is somewhat limited in extentwith few newspapers expressing their views, with still fewer champions in the upper ranks, the agricultural labourers have become in a sense a power in the land.

The southern agricultural labourer and the whole body of low-skilled workers were probably in most respects as well off a century and a half ago as they are to-day.

At last, however, the contrary rule prevailed, which caused the lands not to change quality in changing owners: the noble could still possess the labourers's lands without losing his nobility, but the labourer could be proprietor of a fief without thereby becoming a noble.

Although the labourer at the present moment is a little in the background, and has the best of the bargain, since wages have not much fallen, if at all; yet he will doubtless come to the front again.

The fact suggests the idea that, if facilities were afforded, the labourer would become a considerable depositor of pennies.

The labourer, in fact, is not by any means such a fool as his own leaders endeavour to make him out.

"Might as well," said a burly labourer (or, for all I know, burly receiver of unemployment dole)"might as well be sardines in a tin!" Straightway we all laughed and viewed our lost time with more serenity.

To put in the potatoes a settler would need the help of a labourer, to whom he would have to give one dollar per day and his board, or, if the labourer be a Chinaman, one dollar and a quarter per day without his board.