Second Shetland Truck System Report

"Second Shetland Truck System Report" by William Guthrie is a historical investigation into the "truck" system of payment in the Shetland Islands, a practice where workers were paid with goods instead of money. Created after the Truck Commission Enquiry of 1871, the report looks closely at the social and economic effects of this system, focusing on how it impacted the earnings of the working class. The report starts by describing the inquiry in Shetland, explaining how the commission found that paying with goods was common in industries like fishing and hosiery. It shows how the local economy depended on trading and the difficulties that fishermen and farmers faced in getting fair payment, also pointing out the relationships between landowners, merchants, and the workers who relied on them; this sets the stage for a deeper understanding of how the truck system affected Shetland society in the 1800s.