The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-01-26 00:00:00

had taken plus upon an average of as taut 15,.. per
quarter more than the rod sverage pekes of the country
for barley brought into the to stet and properly sold
This -at. ?elution fur Otos to consider. Was it right
that it should continue? He felt that no person had •
it ought to be done justly. Alluding to caste be said
whatevera u fair,
t might be,
theywhether
rreightniretonfewoil from corn td weeare
thi. grain wn,:
:jouoresrcposabie
erroneous if
than barley, for they were aware that but a small
portion of cots was returned at all. The inferior ones
were consumed on the harm, whilst if any were sold it
was only the best portion of the crop. He would not
my one word against the core impactors, for he believed
them to be • very respectable dam of men, who
took things as sent to them. but about •
fortnight ego only one return was made in this market
Satin that cats were 24e. • quarter, whist the average
pries was 19s. Thum was a serious question for the people,
but what wasetrery body's business was nobody's business,
and so the matter went on. He had endeavoured to
point out the deleatel of the system ; be knew it was
much more ease to do so than find a remedy, but not-
withstanding this it did not follow that no remedy could
be found. He believed it could. Re thought it was not
so mach in the province of a farmer? glob to end the
remedy as it was to show the grevious injustice of nub
a system. It WWI for the Legislature to suggest the
remedy. Uhe bad the honour, as well as the sweets of
office, be should have no diffieulty in proposis4 momo
remedy or other; but situated as be wee, having the
honour to represent the Farmers' Club on this occasion,
it was not part of his present intention to point out
• remedy. He did think, however, that amongst the
many syitems which had been suggested from time to
time that it would be • great improvement on the pre.
east system if in large towns there wee • Board
appointed to look over the corn inspector's returns from
week to week,and who should also emu 'el each person who
bought urn to make a return, instead of having
only 290 town, making these returns, which was ridi-
culous in the 19th century. In reply to the chairman,
be mid he believed 290 was not half the comber of
market towns in England, but out of that number they
must withdraw • great many that had brooms obsolete
as market towns, and take into consideration other
large towns sueh as Tfideot and other plus which had
risen up in importance owing to railway facilities. This
subject was diseased at the Winfrith Formers' Club
when a memorial was got op to the Board of Trade,
asking that some remedy might be granted. Whether
this question was one for the Board of Trade, or for the
House of Common., was a matter of opinion. They
asked an ex-rnember and one or two lqial gentleman as
to what was the best course to pursue, but they were
divided in opinion, but be would suggest that some-
thing of the kind should be done in this club. He
aim some time since • letter from one of Pieir members,
and an excellent letter it was, acknowledging to One
the magistrates of the aunty that the preeent sultan
of corn returns was so bad that it required looking into,
and that he would take the opportunity of doing so.
' This letter was written 13 years ago, but as nothing
had been done, it was only fair to presume that the
honourable gentleman had forgotten that he had ever
written the letter, end it was probable the matter
would go on for another 13 years, or for several genera-
tion,, unless they moved in the matter. This then was
for their ponsideratioo. It was only thine who were
interested in this matter, who made these payments
whether for rent or for tithes, or whether they might
be held up as making so much money for their barley
when such was not the case. He would suggest that
they should take active steps I the subject, and do
their duty to thentaelves and as Ilelimeo. (Applause.)
The C0111•11AX having invited dimension on the
lecture, Mr. Saunders said be thought farmers ought to
have an opportunity of returning the corn they wild at
home as well as at market. The beet corn was brought
to market whilst the second was left at home, and be
had to pay his rent charge upon the corn returned.
He was of opidion that It was very unjust to have
only the best corn returned, and said that sellers ought to
be compelled to make a return.
Mr. HODOne said he was not unused he corn returns
because he had been • corn purchaser in the Dorebester
market; therefore he.was conversant with the manner
of the declaration. The object of the corn return., he
remarked, was a very important one, and then at some
length pointed out their use. After baring done so
he remarked that he thought it was important that
the attention of the Board of Trade should be direeted
to the evil complained of. He was, however, sears
that it was difficult indeed to approach • question which
savoured at all of agricultural statistics at this =omen-,
and he was sorry the question bed not met with that
I rows which it deserved: He thought this
was din to the unfortunate manner in which
It had been introduced, by the police being called
upon to gather the statistics. He agiv ed with Mr.
Damon that if they could beagathered by Board, of
Guardians, who would make a return of the acreage
under cultivation, that they would be of the greatest
H pomaible value, e then referred to the returns being
made in other countries, and said that by this course
it could be seen what the productions of the country
were, and it could also be seen if exports could be spared
or importations required.

Mr 7 Homut, after expressing his obligation, to Mr.
Damen for the manner in which be had introducied his
subject, said hi, opinion of the corn returns wee that
they were very inadequate to meet all the requirements
they were Introduced for. Three parties were in-
terested in the corn returns. There was the tenant who
rented his land from the 'meme of corn, there seas the
tithe commutation which was taken from the return,
and in all cases of valuation, on farms, valuers could
not arrive at a proper price unless they bad • fair
return for the past ten or twelve months. The tithe
averages were taken considerably above what their
average would be if they were to look over their books
and return the prices for twelve months. He believed
this was the case, and where there was an evil pointed
out there ought to be a remedy. It was not his pro-
vince to point out the remedy, neither would he at-
tempt to do so, but so • club, if they admitted that
these returns were not fair, they were justified to go to
the Legialature for an amendment of the present act, so
that the returns in ight be establialied on. better basis and
foundation than at present. A bill, he said, was intro-
duced about two years agn whichagriculturists could
not adopt. They were called upon to make • return of
all the stock on their farms, which he thought was rather
inquisitorial. They had to make a return of the
number of cart homes, sheep, end cows, their mops of
corn, and poultry, too, for what he knew. The long and
' short of this was to let the country ate how much stock
and capital they employ.-'d. If it had been left in the
buds of the police there was no doubt about ita being
pretty soon made public. He agreed with Mr. Damen
that there was a remedy to be found which would not
be objectionable. He though the best way for obtaining
these returns would be by appointing two or three
person, in each pariah. He believed it would be for the
public good to know the corn returns, but as for know-
ing the amount of stock on their farms that was out of
the questionMr.Joe• °ALM being called upon by the chairman,
said he was sorry to differ from Mr Damen on one point.
It was all very well to make objections, but where
persons of experience lectured he thought their
modesty should not prevent them from pointing ont
the remedy. If the matter waa fit for discussion there
could be no objection.for pointing out the remedy.
' "

Mr. Datfalt-irs reply, mild he Irad had • great 'deal of ;
correspondence on this question in years part with Yr.
Fisher Hobbs, and he bed suggested that in all trammel-
tions which took place in market towns there should he
a cheque written for the buyer and idler, and signed at
the same tine. It seemed to him that this would inset
the case in a great measure, as he had no doubt a great
many people would make the return. He had
thought if the seller returned independently of
the buyer it would be • check on the buyer.
at it then wield be seen if either party had
neglected to do their duty, and not according to the
Act of Parliament. But this step was bust with many
diflctilties, for they might go into a large market where
time were 200 or 300 sellers and only 10 or 20 buyers.
It might be thought that it woe much easier for buyers
temake returns than sellers, but aceordtghtolr. Hobbs
Many man making a return should be ' to give a
awe t to that effect to the inspector, question
weed be met in • great measure. Bo far as regarded
Er. Panaders's idea, he did not think the Legislature
could frame en Act to meet that case, bemuse if the
farmer felt disposed to sell his corn at an inferior price,
this would not affect the question of avenges. Mr.
Wein must bear in mind that although he (gr. Dames)
said such and such things might IN done, if be enjoyed
the sweets of 0500. he did not think it was in the pro-
vince of a farmers' dub to point out the remedy, be-
cause the Legislature was all powerful to meet the
matter.
The Vicg-Ceantitur agreed with Mr. Hodges as to
the objection which the country took upon the objection-
able part which the poliee were to take in obtaining the
agricultural statistics of the country. It was all very
well to have etatistios, but they would be attended with
a gnat deal of expense, which would have to 00113* Oil t
of their pockets, He wanted to know where there was
• better organ for seeing agricultural Satirtios than in
the mark Lase Express, where returns of the production
of the ...it were made from every town in England. He
did object to the manner in which the Government pro-
posed to gather these return,; they were now taxed
upon ablest everything, and if the Legislature could tax
a jacks= they would. (Laughter.) He believed they
were too much interfered with by the Government, but
he hoped that in agricultural detainee they would be
able to keep them in the dark.
Kr. DOBIWAII was of opinion that if corn returns
were made at all they ought to be correct
ones, and mid Is thought it wu important
that when a fresh dealer came late the market
he should be taken before the Mayor and cicespelied to
make the proper declaration. He thought the tenses
should be made imperative, and not oonilned to town.
,
as farmers could sell what quantity of corn they pleased
out of the borough without being called upon to make
a return. He considered that, taking an average of
yearn, they would And the "telling" or grist corn
about 17 per cent., but that if the whole of the corn
was sold in the market and properly returned, instead
of being consumed at home at lower pekes according to
its value, it would make • difference of nearly 5 per
amt, on the tithes.
The CHAIIILIfeII said with regard to the introduction
of the question of the malt tax by Mr. Damen, he need
not to have made any apology for the subject, because
they could see how intimately connected it was with the
one under dissursion. With regard to the subject of
statistics, he was free to confess, whilst be respected
the opinions of others, that he bad never seen any
great objection to them, provided the plan ri taking
them was not of an objectionable kind to fanners.
Whilst on the one hand these statistics might be takes
in a very objectionable way to the producer, and perhaps
by no method would they be free from objeSion, yet
the advantages on the other hand were so coosaiderable
that it would be worth the while of the community at
large to waive their objections if • sebum could be
formed for taking the statistics in the least objeetiouble
manner. He should like to have known what pro-
portion the 290 towns. included in the list of urn
returns, were to the number of market towns in England,
but he apprehended they would not be ball or any.
thing like that. If it could be shown to the Legislature
that the method of taking the corn returns was •
delusive one, and was unfair to every party; if Ii
could be shown that it acted unjustly towards
these persons who rested under the corn returns, as
well as in the matters of valuation of stooks
and crops, he maintained that they were bound
to apply a remedy at owe. He thought Mr. MUM
had made out rathu a better case in respect of wheat
than the question itself warranted; be had dated the
case too fairly. His opinion was that nothing like a
half of the proximation of British stuff was represented