OATMEAL V. BEER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1581, 12 January 1884, Page 2

OATMEAL V. BEER.

At a meeting ot the Gloucestershire Chamber of Agriculture, Mr G, B. Wilts, railway contractor, said as the subject of.giving oatmeal had been mentioned, it might be interesting if he gave the results of the large experience lie had in, this management of 20Q0 tq 3000 men yearly, It was naturally liiq object to get as much work out of thorn as possible—they comprised stone, masons, blacksmiths, navvies, and every description of laborers—and he had no hesitation in saing, if you want to get a large quantity of work out of men, do not give them drink. JTe was no teetotaller, but a moderate drinker, himself. His men cannot work near so well on beer and intoxicants as on oatmeal gruel. If you want to put on a short tremendous push, then give drink, but for lasting work do not givo drink, A few years ago—a very hot summer—he was obliged to get every particle of work out of his men he could, and tried drink, bub it did not act. He then let them bring their own drink, but this did not act, he then prohibited drink, and gave the men oatmea[ gruel, mixed with sugar, and salt, the last being an important item, The ehango was marvellous. The men worked 18 hours daily on, oaomaal, and thoy worked twelve hours with difficulty on beer. He had taken twenty men and divided tbein intq gangs of 10, giving ono drink and the other oatmeal, awl the oatmeal men beat by a long distance,