Paper clipping from The John Dobson Collection
21 November 1901
Last Updated: 12 August 2013
Comment:
Half yearly term refers to the six monthly periods of engagement that farm workers had with their farmer employers. At the end of these periods, or terms, the workers had a week's leave when they typically returned home. In the event that they had not agreed to return to their previous employer, which was referred to as 'staying on', they usually sought their next employment during their week's leave. On market day of that week the workers congregated at a particular point in their local market town and were 'interviewed' by farmers who were seeking labour for the next six month 'term'.