We must not look upon rural industry as being purely a matter of thatchers and potters, and makers of hurdles and things of that kind.
To-day we have not enough skilled labour and certainly not enough thatchers in the country.
I have already drawn the attention of county war agricultural executive committees to the importance of taking steps to increase the number of skilled thatchers.
There is a great difficulty in getting experienced hedgers, ditchers, thatchers, men who can make hurdles, men of that class.
I realise that the large increase in the acreage of land under cereals calls for additional skilled thatchers.
I have not heard that the building licensing regulations have caused any difficulty to thatchers.
The one relates to the occupation of hedgers and thatchers, and the other to that of mole-catchers.
Less-skilled building workers, such as thatchers and daubers, also worked in teams.
