Hopping: Sunday excursions (1914)

Post date: Apr 25, 2014 6:2:52 PM

Extract from South Eastern Gazette of 25th August 1914.

GROWERS AND PICKERS.

Arrangements for the hop-picking were considered at a meeting at the Kent Arms Hotel, Paddock Wood, on Monday afternoon. Mr. T. Wimshurst, J.P., presided.

Mr. Christie said he had been in communication with the Railway Company, and had that day received a letter from the general manager, stating that the company would be prepared to run hop-pickers’ trains at the same times and rates as usual, provided, of course, that the military authorities did not advance their supreme right to the use of the railways for the defence of the Empire. The speaker added that, as many men were out of work in London, there was no reason to suppose that there would he a scarcity of

pickers.

Mr. W. Burton (Capel) said that if any of his pickers were short of money wherewith to pay their fares he would gladly advance it to them. He felt sure that other growers would do the same.

Mr. Hawes (Wateringbury) spoke strongly against the facilities provided by the railway companies for people to visit "the pickers on Sundays" and it was agreed to make a representation to the Railway Company on the subject.

NO SUNDAY EXCURSIONS

The Kent Branch of the National Farmers’ Union having appealed to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway Company not to run Sunday excursion trains from London into the hop districts this year, has now received the following reply:

SOUTH EASTERN & CHATHAM RAILWAY.

August 21st, 1914.

Dear Sir,—I am in receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, and in view of the circumstances explained therein, I have told the promoters of the Sunday excursions to the hop-growing districts that the usual facilities cannot this year be granted. I am also cancelling the cheap Sunday bookings from London to the hop-growing districts which are granted to all stations more than 25 miles distant at single fare and a third, during the time the hoppers are in the neighbourhood.

Yours faithfully,

E. C. COX