The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-12-13 00:00:00

DORC I I ESTER FA RKERS' CLUB.

The third meeting of the preset' siesion of the
Dorchester Farmers Club took place at the Antelope
llotel, on Saturday e•ening. The chair was t.ken by
the President of the Society, .1. O. Woad, flog.. and
the rieeshair by Mr. Richard Geese, of Watereon.
There was • mono°us asieinblage of uembers, ainoopt
whom was the newlyslecteel one, the Mayor of
Dorchester, J. P. Aldridge, Eq. The subject biought
forward for discussion was "On the best mode of pro-
viding food for farm stock during the present winter,"
introduced by Mr. Cl. Homer and Mr. W. C. Spoaner, of
Itiouthempton.

TRH MALT TAI qUITITION.
The CHAIRMAN said he had to call tbe serious atteti•
tion of the club to • question which had agitated their
minds a great deal ever sinoe they had been a club, ond
was likely to agitate them for some time to oome he was
afraid. There were, however, come favourable &cum
stinces @Vending the question, and he would, as briefly
as pouible, put them in possemion of all ho knew in
reference ti the question of the abolition of the Malt
Tax. On Tuesday last • meeting of the Centred Aesock-
lion wan held in London, which wan well atiemded, aid
there was 'good deal of energy mutilated by different
members of the assieiation iirueot. He WWI unable to
go hisimeU, but wrote to Mr. Kiutrea suggesting two
or three thinp which occurred to his mind IA being
likely to be brought into their counsels at that meeting.
In reply he had • letter which was rather too personal
for him to read, and lie would therefore call upon Mr.
Crane to do to, as lie considered its 'mutants ought to
be placed before them • in fact it was part of their
poomm fleetion. He would st observe that in him letter to
Yr. Motets he mentioned two things In particular—the
first as to what resolatious they were likely to come to
in reference to the next general election u influencing
the abolition of the Malt Tax; and secondly, if any
measures should be taken to influence the working point.
lotion of this country, who were the great consumers of
beer. The letter would show what the feeling of the
meeting was.
Mr. Caum read the letter alluded to, in which Hr.
Kintraa stated that Le adopted Mr. Wood's susgesUon
Subo the best steps to be taken at the next general
election for the repeal of the Malt Tax, and the *Amelia-
lion believed they saw their way in that direction with
some elopes of moose,

'rile CUSHMAN mid that • few days after he had
received Mr. Kintrea'a letter he had another couiinunt
cation from him, in which he stated that ha had had an
interview with Mr. Simpson, of Wakefield, who in-
formed him that he would give EIS() to their fond if
nine other gentlemen would do the same eri,hin a fort-
night. He need not say what amist•nos this would b-
to their cause if the object coed only be acoomplisheil,
as it would enable there to establi.h machioery over
the country for raising ten or twenty times as much, and
then their same. would be sure. Mr. Kintrea concluded
his letter by wishing to be informed if the Dominator
Farmers' Club would gi 1:100. In refereim.e to that
sogitertion, the Chairman said if nine gentlemen *mold
be found who would glee £lO each, he would give his £lO.
After mime dismission in reference to this matter, in
which it was stated that the club was not in • position
to raise CISO, bat could raise £2& in edition to
another similar sum,which they intended to furnish the
Association with, • reeolotion we. framed to the fol-
lowing elect t—" A communication having been
received from the Central Association for the abolition
of the Malt Tax, relative to its funds, the Dorchester
Farmers' Club pledges itself to raise £25. and would
feel thankful to all gentlemen favourable to the repeal
of to. Malt Tan, to need donationu for this desirable
object to Mr. Chapman Saunders, their Treasurer,
Watercombe, Dorcheeter."
This was proposed by Mr. T. H. B•UNDZAS, seconded
111
by Mr. .1. U. writ, end carried.
TN! 000STT IMPILISISTATION AND THS HALT TAX.

The CHAIRMAN ORIN the next subject to which he
was about todraw the attentiiin of the dub was an im-
portant and delicate one, but one strictly in their
province. They had taken up the abolition of the tax
upon principle, and were in earnest about it. In the
remarks be was about to make they er ould understsnd
him to lay party polities aside. He considered the Malt
Tax preeminent, and above what wee understood by
party politico. The question was this—whether they AA
a club were mitided with the professions that had been
made by their county members in reference to the
abolition of the Melt Tax. It struck him that they
ought to express themselves on it when they were pre-
pared to do so. They looked for • general election to
take place at lout within 12 months, and if they were
in earnest about the abolition of the tax, it behoved
them to take those measure. which would he most likely
to secure the object they hid in view. It was right
that they should do so, inasmuch as farmers' clubs
might be fairly mid to be the repre- ent.tion of the
agricultural minds of the country. He had no doubt
that their expressions on this subjeca—ealinly and
deliberately made without party bias--would not be
without their effect upon the county representation.
It was, therefore, necessary to speak of their three
members. Perhaps the club would agree with him that
two of their members had rill along expressed themselves
In favour of abolition. Hr. Strut was kind enough to
take the chair at a public meeting convened for this
purpose at an early stage of the agitation, at a time
when it had not made such greet &dealers
as now, and when it mac fur lees popular than at present.
Their other member, Mr Player, had abobeen with their,
and audSciently expressed himself to the satisfaction of
all abolitionist., and they might look upon him as
decided upon that question. Their third member. Mr.
Portman, 12 months ago, expressed views which he
(the chairman) thought he might fairly my were not AO
satidactory to abolitionists. Sines then—if his public
. . .

manifestations as recorded in the newspapers m'ay be
taken as an index—his views had been considerably
modified. He (the chairman) believed that Mr. Port-
man himself had stetted that when the question wee
brought fairly before Parliament last season by Mr.
Morrill be took that view on the ruble:it which led
him, when the division came, to withdraw horn the
House. He did not vote egainst abolition, or in favour
of the Malt Tax. They next saw what he said at an
agricultural dinner at Shaftesbury, over which be pre-
sided. He said, "1 should be happy to vote for the
repeal of the Malt Tan in preference to any other in-
direct tax, elways provided that the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, of whatever political party he may be, can
show a earplug over expenditure to justify such •
reduction of taxation, and provided also that no tax is
proposed to be subs.itated for it. I should give this
vole for two remains : becauee the Malt Tax is that tax
which, in their opinion, is the most oppressive to a large
portion of my coaslituenta ; and because any 'ache tax
Is of necessity specially vexatious; for to protect the
revenue from frond so much interference is required es
to hamper the free excretes of skill on the sart of the
maker of the article subject to excise inspection. (Ap-
plause.) He (the chairman) oonsidered there was
evidence in them observations of Mr. Portanan coming
round to their Views of total abolition, but they must
allow hien to say that this decision of the hon. gentleman
was so hampered by conditions that be scarcely thought
if it were put to the farmer. of the musty of Don't in
this for.., that they would be satiated with his views
on the subject. (Hear, hear.) Since then hie views had
evidently undergone further modification, and they might
suppose a good meaty thsop tow:vent for that. Hemight
have felt that be was not quite satisfied, or that other
Salomons might have been at work ; or he might have
said so much that be felt no difficulty an going
the whole length of the question and he
(the chairman) must say, if be said so much,
be did not me any reason why he should not come
, estiraly to their views on the question. At the
Sherborne meet* he expressed himself, when a voice
cried out The Melt Tax," to the following offset:
"Stop a bit, he was morning to that. In some quarters
it was specified that the reduction of the Malt Tax was
one o/ the probable measures that would be brought
1 forward • but he was not in the confidence of the
ChaneellOr of the Exchequer, therefore he could not
stall his views on the subjem. But he might take this
opportuoity of saying what he thought about the Malt
Tax. (Hear, bear.) A little time ago be was inclined
to resist the repeal of the Malt Tat, but be felt it bad
1 ashamed • shape, having been put forward as a free-
tied. immure required to complete the system of free.
trade, that he, as a Liberal member of the county,
should be no borer justified in resisting a feeling so
strong among many of his constiteenta, that the time
was fame for • reduction or abolition of the Melt Tax.
(Hear, hear.) And be might say in this matter that he
did not consider it a party question. Be knew several
who sat on the saint side of the House as be did—some
1 of the very old Whig families, and of very old Liberal
opinions—were also of opinion that the time was now
some when that boon should be granted to the agrical.
tend portion of this .sentry." It was now for those
gentlemen present to expreme their views on the
quention. He might be allowed bossy that what the
hon. gentleman said at the lent meeting—so far as his
ewe individual feeling was soecerned—was a great
relief to him. Hadar different riirenutstances it would

t;«; -;-re;sirier 'Ca; i-is:b;IC.IT.7.-ri;;;ls,-11-;
(the chairman) felt sanded with him as an abolitionist.
lie dad sot thiak, it the question arm pat to an isms,
that Mr. Portman could do otherwise than vote for the
abolition of the Ms.
_

--- -
Mr. T. H. Sauxnana mid people were vary glad
that Mr. Portman mu aoudad round, °thwarter, they
should not hare Toted for him at the next eketioo.
. . . . .

Tbe Camaro' said, as a club he thought it wan
within their province to molar with their county
members upon say question affecting their interests,
and if they varkibed to know further of the views which
their representatives entertaAned upon questions affect-
ing the agricultural interest, be did not think they
would be trannereseing if they were ecuanniniested
with upon the matter. It occurred to Irina, before he
had aeon Mr. Portman's speoebee, that they should ask
for further explanation of his views, brat boring
declared himself ee far, perhaps that seceseity was
obviated.

Mr. J. G. HOIMI remarked that be did not think
Mr. Portman could run away from what be lied said.
Mr. T. H. SAUNDERS : I think he has seen his danger.
Mr. Dann said the ohairman had done good wake
in mentioning it, but suggested that the matter should
be left as at present.
The Vtos-CHAlnstatt did not think it neoeewy to
some to • resolution on the subject. Should there 1e •
contest at the nett 'Motion, Mr. Portman would hare
to ratify those expremions still more strongly at the
hustinga