Second Shetland Truck System ReportGuthrie, William
History
Second Shetland Truck System Report
Guthrie, William
Labor law -- Truck system -- History -- England; Shetland (Scotland) -- History
1386. What was your rent when you held your land under
Mouat?-It was £4, excluding poor-rates and road money.
1387. That was what you paid to Mouat?-Yes.
1388. Then you knew what your rent was?-Yes. Of course he
told us what our rent was.
1389. And it was accounted for at the settlement?-Yes. At the
settlement he summed up our accounts, and told us we were due
so much-so much for rent and so much for goods.
1390. Had you a pass-book?-No. He did not approve of
pass-books.
1391. Did you take a note yourself of the goods you got, or did you
just trust to the people at the store?-I trusted to the people at the
store,-to his storekeeper.
1392. Have you been present during the examination of John
Leask?-Yes.
1393. You have heard all that he said about the way of dealing,
and about the store, and the quality of the goods?-Yes.
1394. Do you agree with all that he said?-Yes, I agree more
particularly with what he said about the quality of the goods. The
goods were very inferior at Mouat's store.
1395. You also agree with him in his description of the way of
dealing with Mouat?-Yes.
1396. Do you also say that you were compelled to sell all your fish
to him?-Yes. All our earnings, whether by sea or land, were in
duty bound to his store. That was stated to us every year at the
settlement.
1397. Was that stated to you by Mouat?-Yes. We were told that
we were in duty bound to bring every iota of our produce, whether
by sea or land, to his store.
1398. Did you ever get any letter threatening you for selling your
fish or your goods to another than Mouat?-I never did, I got no
letter, because I never got far forward as to require that treatment.
1399. You never got warning to go away?-No, but I was often
told that I would get warning if I persisted in such things.
1400. Do you know of any of your neighbours having got such
letters?-No; not in my neighbourhood.
1401. Is there anything you wish to add to the statement made by
John Leask?-Nothing.
1402. Who were you fishing for last year?-For Mr. Robertson.
1403. Did you get goods at his store?-Yes.
1404. They were of better quality than those you got from
Mouat?-Certainly they were.
1405. Do you get all the money you ask for?-I get what goods I
require, and if I ask for money I will get it. At the settlement, if
there is anything due to me I will get it; and if I don't have money
for my rent, he will help me with it.
1406. But if you want all your balance in money, will you get it?-
Yes. I got it last time. We are quite satisfied with Mr. Robertson
according to the custom of the country.
1407. But are you satisfied with the custom of the country?-No; I
don't agree with it.
1408. What do you want to be changed?-I am not prepared to say
in the meantime.
1409. Do you want the price of your fish fixed in advance?-We
would require that, I think, for some encouragement to us.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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