Second Shetland Truck System Report Part 24

As to your question why the scattholds remain undivided, the general backwardness of improvement, and want of agricultural skill and capital, are the immediate causes. The present tenantry are so ignorant of the means of turning these commons to any proper account, that the fee-simple of most of them would, under the present management, hardly pay a common land-measurer for surveying them, far less could they bear any litigation. There are, however, many considerable scattholds at present the exclusive property of one or a few persons. Improved management has begun, and will probably take root, first in such situations, and afterwards, when its advantages are seen, and a sufficient number of people trained to practise it has arisen, it will spread over those lands where the difficulty and expense of divisions have to be previously incurred. Your alternative of levying a rent of so much per head of beasts pasturing, would not answer, because, as I have already endeavoured to explain, the tenants, in paying a rent per merk, pay for their scattholds as well as for their other ]and.

Your other suggestion, however, numerically limiting the stock according to the rent, or, which is the same thing, according to the moths, would be highly beneficial both to tenants and landlords. If you ask, Why then is it not carried into effect? I can only answer that we have not long turned our attention the way of agricultural improvement, and have only begun to discover that what is difficult is not always impossible.

V. -- EXCERPT FROM REPORT OF MR. PETERKIN, GENERAL INSPECTOR OF BOARD SUPERVISION OF THE POOR IN SCOTLAND.

.--The Board are aware of the constantly recurring reference I have had to make for many years to the tendency of Inspectors and members of Parochial Boards, here and there, over the whole of Scotland, to traffic with paupers, by furnis.h.i.+ng them with goods of all kinds, and with lodgings, and intercepting the parochial allowances in payment thereof. On this subject there has, since the inst.i.tution of the Board, been a constant struggle; for here and there, all over Scotland, in the large towns as well as in rural and remote parishes, the practice prevailed, and was occasionally discovered-- generally by accident. The Board long ago expressed decided opinions on the impropriety of the practice. Now in Shetland, it so happens that almost the only persons who are practically the administrators of the Poor Law are more or less directly or indirectly interested in the local trade -- in the fish-curing, or in the shops, or in the stores of one kind or another. In one parish the Poor Law is practically administered by these merchants and fish-curers, and to their shops the paupers must of necessity go to make their purchases. In two other parishes nearly the same thing occurs. There is probably no parish in Shetland, where, to a greater or less extent, this is not the case; and to find there persons capable of transacting business, and of acting as members of Boards or Inspectors of Poor, who are not, in some way or other, directly or indirectly interested in a shop, or connected with a shopkeeper, is perhaps impossible. Where the line is to be drawn, when all interest in the business of the shop will cease, is beyond my powers of discovery. Even among the more recent appointments of Inspectors we have one who is personally un.o.bjectionable, having no shop; but his mother keeps "" of the district. Another was a shopkeeper; and on his appointment as Inspector he gave up his shop and goods, and with them, of course, it was to be supposed all interest in the business; but he made them all over to his niece, ." In another parish the chairman of the Board has "," and his brother has "." In short, everything in Shetland gravitates towards "." To it the child takes a dozen eggs in a morning, and obtains for the family breakfast what is called a ";" to it the young woman takes her knitted hosiery, and in exchange will receive either tea or some article or material of dress; to it the pauper takes the pa.s.s-book, or pay-ticket of the parish, and on that guarantee will get the "," or the ";' and he who supplies the goods over the counter is almost certain to be a member of the Board, or a near relative of one who is, or of the Inspector, -- he may even be the chairman of the Board himself.

'I do not pretend to be able to offer any suggestions to remedy such a state of matters, but too rely state the facts as they have come under my observation. I have, however, no doubt that the poors'

rates in Shetland are, to a great extent, but the natural results of such parochial arrangements as I have referred to.'

VI.--NOTES OF PRICES PAID BY JAMES METHUEN, LEITH, FOR (CURED) SALT FISH, FREE ON BOARD AT LERWICK, FROM 1853 TO 1871.

YearLing CodTuskSaith 185320, 10s.1820. 10s.10. 10s.

1854-5................

1856....15....11, 10s. to 12 185721 to 2218 to 1719, 5s.12, 10s.

185821, 10s.16, 10s.....12 185920 to 2215, 10s.....10 to 11 186019 to 2117. 15s2013 186118 to 17, 10s.17, 10s.1812 to 13 186217 to 1815 to 16178, 10s.

186318 to 20, 10s.18209 186418 to 2117 to 1921, 5s.12 186523 to 2421 to 222315 186623 to 25, 10s.19 to 232413, 10s.

186717 to 1816177 186818 to 1916........

186920 to 20, 10s.1718, 10s.11 187021, 10s. to 221820....

187122, 10s. to 2420....13, 10s.

Priced per ton

VII.--ABSTRACTS OF SETTLEMENTS PRODUCED BY MR.

GARRIOCK.

1. ABSTRACT of SETTLEMENT with FAROE FISHERMEN by GARRIOCK & CO.

VesselEarningPaid in Lines, Clothes, CashHooks Meal, etc., and Stores for Self and used on Family Board 'Mizpah' 1870.585 2 1374 13 681 7 11129 0 8 'Mizpah' 1871.328 19 11198 9 763 3 467 7 0 'Sylvia' 1870.427 19 2239 17 071 7 916 4 5

2. ABSTRACT OF SETTLEMENT with CREWS of FISHERMEN at DALE and WALLS -- Season 1871.

Name of CrewGross EarningLines, Nets, Salt, Meal, and GoodsAmount paid in Cash <6-oared boats=""> James t.w.a.tt and crew66 8 616 4 450 4 2 John Jeromson and crew88 16 111/218 4 470 12 71/2 Wm. Jameson and crew74 11 1136 12 1137 19 0 Fraser Henry and crew100 0 41/220 1 61/279 18 10 Thomas Laurenson and crew100 2 727 14 672 8 1 Jacob Christie and crew96 6 615 2 71/281 3 101/2 36 men Total526 6 10134 0 3392 6 7 <4-oared boats=""> Scott Williamson and crew21 2 11/29 8 91/211 13 4 Chas. Williamson and crew33 2 11/219 16 81/213 5 6 William Smith and crew21 17 710 2 31/211 15 31/2 Jas. Tait and crew34 3 41/27 19 21/226 4 2 Geo. Georgeson and crew16 0 7....16 0 7 Thomas Moffat and crew18 15 41/24 14 81/214 0 8 Magnus Thomson and crew*

Thos. Thomson and crew*

Mat. Thomson and crew*158 11 042 18 9 115 12 3 34 men Total829 19 1229 0 81/2600 18 41/2

* 4 boats with 3 men each = 12 men

AVERAGE.

EarningGoods, etc.Cash 36 men in six-oared boats, each14 12 53 14 510 17 11 34 men in four-oared boats, each8 18 72 15 103/46 2 81/4

Minutes of Evidence taken before the Commission on the Truck System (Shetland)

Lerwick: Monday, January 1, 1872.

Mr Guthrie, Commissioner.

.-I have come here, as a Commissioner appointed under the Truck Act of 1870, to inquire into the system of Truck, and to report upon that and upon the operation of all Acts or provisions of Acts prohibiting the truck system; and I have power under the Act, as it says, 'to investigate all offences against such Acts which have occurred within the period of two years immediately preceding the pa.s.sing of this Act (that was, in 1870), and to make such report on the subject of the truck system, and of the existing laws in relation thereto, as they (the Commissioners) shall deem proper and useful'. I wish all that are here, and all that are interested in the subject of this inquiry, to remember that the object for which I am sent here is simply to find out the truth, and the whole truth, about the way in which the system of truck, or, if it is not properly called the system of truck, the system of paying wages and the price of productions,-which is said to prevail in Shetland, operates; and I trust and believe that I shall receive from all of you every a.s.sistance in ascertaining the truth with regard to that matter. I wish every person in Shetland, and every person interested in the matter, to bear in mind, first of all, that I come here with no formed opinion as to the operation of that system, either on the one side or on the other. I come here to find out the truth; and I believe that, so far as Shetland is concerned, the Government which has sent me here is in exactly the same position, and has not formed any opinion. It is simply anxious to find out what is the truth about the system which is alleged to prevail here; and I trust, as I have already said, that I shall receive every a.s.sistance from everybody in prosecuting that inquiry. I have to thank some gentlemen, to whom I have already made application for information, for the courteous way in which they have responded to my application. The interests of some of them may be supposed to be affected by the inquiry, but I hope that they and all of you will come forward frankly and tell me what you know about the matter. It is right, however, to mention, that the Act of Parliament under which I am sent here, furnishes me with special and very stringent powers with regard to the obtaining of information. In particular, I am empowered, among other things, to examine witnesses upon oath; to compel them to answer such questions, as may be put to them; to compel the production of doc.u.ments; to order the inspection of any real or personal property; and a summons requiring the attendance of a witness must be obeyed just in the same way as if it were issued by any of Her Majesty's superior courts. I hope and trust, however, that it will be unnecessary to exercise any of these powers. I think the people of Shetland have sufficient intelligence and good sense to make the enforcement of these powers quite unnecessary. I rely upon their good sense and courtesy to allow the truth to be ascertained, without any difficulty or any resistance or attempt at concealment.

I may mention-although perhaps in this country it is less necessary-that the Act of Parliament gives me power, when any person examined as a witness makes a full and true disclosure touching all matters with respect to which he is examined, to give him a certificate stating that he has made such a full and true disclosure; and that certificate has the effect of protecting him against any civil or criminal procedure which might be taken against him in consequence of anything that he speaks to. Further, I have to express a hope that no person who is interested in the system that is said to prevail here will in any way attempt to interfere with this inquiry by intimidating any witness who is to be called before me, or exercising any undue or improper influence upon him. If any instance of such intimidation or improper influence takes place, I hope the party on whom it is attempted to be exercised will at once make the circ.u.mstance known to me, whether that intimidation is exercised by a threat of dismissal from employment or a refusal of work, or in whatever other way it may be done. All these things would be a serious violation of the law, and would be visited with severe punishment. I shall be ready to receive any information that any person may wish to give on the subject of the inquiry; and if any one wishes to give evidence or to suggest any point for inquiry, I have to ask that they will give that information privately, as the inquiry itself, so far as the taking down of evidence is concerned, must, by the terms of the Act, be held in public.

Lerwick, January 1, 1872. CATHERINE WINWICK, examined

1. You live in Lerwick?-Yes.

2. You are in the habit of knitting for Mr. Linklater?-Yes.

3. For any one else?-No.

4. Do you supply your own wool?-No.

5. Where do you get it?-I knit Mr. Linklater's own worsted.

6. Do you get a supply of it at his shop?-Yes.

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7. Do you pay for it when you get it?-No; he pays me for the knitting.

8. Are you paid in money?-Some in money and some in goods.

9. What is your system of dealing? When you go with anything you have knitted to Mr. Linklater's shop, do you put a price upon it?-No; he gives what he thinks right.

10. He puts the price upon it?-Yes.

11. Does he pay you that price usually in money?-Part in money and part in goods. He does not pay all in money.

12. Do you keep a pa.s.s-book with him?-No.

13. Do you get all the money you want?-I always get what money I ask for; but I never ask for all in money. I have asked for a few s.h.i.+llings in money, and I have always got it.

14. Why did you not ask for the whole in money?-Because he was not in the habit of giving all money for his knitting.

15. Do you mean that you knew if you had asked for it you would not have got it?-I don't think I would have got it all in money; I never asked him for it all, but I always got what I asked for. If I asked him for a few s.h.i.+llings of money, he always gave it to me.

16. Is a settlement always made when you bring your work back?-Sometimes it is, and sometimes not perhaps sometimes I have something in his hands to get, and perhaps sometimes I am due him a little.

17. Due him for what?-For anything. Perhaps he might give me something sometimes when I did not have it to get, if I asked him for it.

18. Did you ever wish to buy your goods at any other place?-No; I could not buy my goods at any other place.

19. Were you always content with what you got?-Yes; I was always content.

20. Then if you wanted money, it would be for some other purpose, such as paying rent?-Yes.