The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-11-30 00:00:00

DORCHESTER FARMERS CLUB.

The fina meeting of the Session Wag h•I.1 at the
Ring's A Crag flotll on Saturday erering under the
presidency of Mr. H. W. Hawk.na. There were
also oresent—Mr. R. Genre (Watarcombe), Mr. T.
C. Saunders, Mr. Orkley Saunders, Mr. IL N.
Howard. Mr. J. Groves, Mr. Lipo,omhe, Mr. H.
Taylor, Mr. Vine, Mr. I:anionic, Mr. Loader, Mr
W. Chick, and Mr. Beale.

The CHAISMAY, in opening the proceeding, said it
gave him very great pleasure to meet them again on
this the first meeting of the Session. He waa also
very pleased to see they had much a good attendance,
it being rather better thou they usually had. He
then aunounced that there were three gentlemen who
had volunteered to lecture for them during the three
next meetings. The first was Mr. Minium, of the
Donet County Hospital, who had volunteered to read
a paper, but he did not knew on what subject ; then
biome. Carter, the sandmen, had promised a lecture
for January; and Dr. Day would read a lecture on
"Agricultural Chemistry ;" so that they were pretty
well provided for the next three months. (Hear, hear.)
He was sorry ti tell them that he haul not been
fortunate enough to get up a subject ho lecture on that
evening. Under the circums•emoes in which he had
been ;Awed he had not been equal to getting up a
lecture, and be only intended now to just mention
three or four of the most important subjects, and ask
them to discuss them themselves. since they last
met, one thing must strike them all, viz., that the
farmer had many friends, who one and all had put
forth remedies to b•nefit hie condition, hut whether
any of their many friends had hit the right nail on
the head remained to be proved. The first subject was
the repeal of the Malt Tax, about which there were
many conflicting opinions; then the Gerund Game
BM, which no doubt would he a boon to a good many
tenants, and the Royal Agricultural Commission,
Mr. T. C. SAUMDZISS said their Chairman had jute
briefly introduced to them three subjects, and in these
subjects there was almost sufficient to discuss for three
evenings. Now their Chairman had said there were
some who would be the farmers Mends; but nobody
knew if they were or not. The Malt Tax, or rather,
the alteration and the transfer of the tax from malt to
hoer, and the Ground Game Rill were brought forward
uoder the present Government, but the Royal Com-
mingles was brought forward by the late Government.
Tbe object of this Committee, no doubt, was extremely
good, it being for the purpose of eoquiring into the
etetc of agriculture throughout the country. The
result had not been made known yet, but there were
geetlemen preseut who had reniered the c minission
some assistance. Fie hoped that by-and.bye when the
reports were issued that some good would result,
whether it would or not was not for him to say.
Agriculture held a strong positioa in the country, as
had been ample shown of late. He thought they
would sgres. with him that, whether as farmers, or
connected with trade throughout the country, that
the bad agricultural seasona had shown itself in a
very marked manner indeed. With regard to
the Malt Tax there was a very divided onioi no. He
for one, some years ago, certainly held up hie hand and
voice for the remisei in of the &sty, s d he sees still
hclit.ed to the Suite., illion a 'hi..., viz, tot it wan a
Fre. Trade measure. Ile disliked Free Trade, but
still as they had had Free Trade, to a certain extent,
he wanted it carried out to is much further extent then
it was at present. He did not see why farmers should
not have the freedom to do what they liked with their
own barley and produce. H. hoped the measure would
in th., time to come prove aatiafaetrity to the agricul-
turists,. That was his and, no doubt, there
were come who would diff born him in this' respect,
but lie would still hold that it was a very just measure
to the agricultural interest. Many people had said
that it would reduce the price of harl y ; hut that
remained to be prover!. There had been • great deal
of b irley in the market for some time past, end that
had more to do with the rather receding prime than
~,ything else. With reael to the Ground Game Bill,
he did not see very much in it. He did not approve
of it very much. It was contrary to the other measure,
and was • great interference with the freedom of action
In contract. No doubt there might be some few
instances where game wee 'seer-preserved, and too
mane rah' its and ton mails. bares kept, hut it was •
great pity that other people •houl.l have to suffer for
the ac ion of these parties. le conclusion he expressed
his pleasure at seeing so many gentlemen present, and
he true& d they would give their opinions as to the
merits of the respective queetions, it being • rill'
important time in acriculture. (Hear, hearei
Mr. fie %Olt said with regard to the alt.eatioe In the
law reapecting the duty on malt he cli.l nn.. understand
it himself. He had never been very tennis interested
Ins milting or Lrewinr, therefore he wis not in •
position to give ir.y opinion. list, at the same time,
he was vary &axiom; to hear the opinions ti • others, and
wean the onto VW,. for Riving on op;ain as to the
working of the tat he phoul.l le very glad to hear it
Perhaps, however, the tiers for thee had hardly yet
cone, as they ecarc ly knew what ff..ct the tran,fer
of the duty from malt to beer ste...i.l hay, ; hut it did
not appear to him it will Is,. any leeneet at 41 to the
public : whether it would relieve the a:riou'turiale or
not he could not say. With regard to the Royal Corn.
intuits; issued by the late Government, he could not
help feeling illsat great good would come of it. At any
rate, a very great dul of valuable opinion would be
collected. and it would Le en ercellent thing to have
all that information to refer to. ft would show the
position of agricidtcre at the present time, and in ten
or twenty years' time it would be extremely valuable
to And out from the report whether the state of agri-
culture wu improving or deteriorating. (Hear, hear.)
The report, he expected. would he a very exhaustive
one and he believed the gentlemen who had been
collecting information had had • greet deal of Work to
do, and had taken great pains to do their work effectu-
ally. With regard to the commlution to America,
their report Waa molt Interesting and valuable, and
he was glad to have the opportunity of acknowledging
the kindness of one of their couuty members, Colonel
flighty, in sending him one of the first copies that was
printed. It was very interesting, end he had had
great pleasure in reading it to some of his friends. He
was particularly 'Puck with one of Mr. Beads
remarks almost at the end of the report. He said:
" America may Ise& very good place to go to make
money in ; but I would rather have a crust in Ragland
with something to bury me. than go to America and
make a fortune." He (Mr. Gengel thought that was
enough to make them more contented wish their
present condition tha , they were apt to be. He bad
no doubt America was • very flue field for young men
to go to. They had • great deal to fear from American
competition, it was the great bugbear of the day; but
he remembered the time saber. the Corn Laws were
repealed. in '46, whey were told jt was no we for any.
body to grow corn—it was never going to pay again.
It was just the. same ory as at the present time He
did not think they ought to listen to it. They must
farm as well as they could, and if they onkl only get
good seasons they might then meet American oompe.
titian, severe though it might be. (Hear, hear) The
Ground Game Rill was certainly a great movement,
and few men would hays the courage that Mr. Glad.
steno had but takicur rich a measure, for it was one
which would make him with many parties very
unpopular. He was SINN)," to say that personally he
had had nothing to comptesa ef, 1.,- he lied Always
experienced the greates• kindness one libe.ality from
his noble lan ilord in the matter of game. No doubt
there were some cues throughont the country in which
the seat would afford relief, and he hoped it would be
equal to not oocasion ; that it might step in where
wanted, and sword teller to the is; preesed. (Hoar,
hoar.) He hoped some men wool.' give them
their opinion on the bislt Ts... • be o;;lerved they
had one or two present. (Hear. heap,)
• Mr. J. Geovge *aid he was not aware ary special
subject was going t, be lw mght forward for dtecuseion.
with recant to the transfer .1 the tax from malt to
beer it was ton much in its inf..ney for him to give any
npinion, end he could hardly do n a' on-sent. I C-tainly
he iod felt no inconvenience portion ally as yet, and he
hoped he ahould nit, but whether it was g .itat to woik
sumer...lo.y and he • benefit 10 the farmers, that of
course he must ita.A 11.1,3 of the question'. Ile w..uld
rather n..t go into it at I,rea,mt (or he was not hi a
po.ition to give any decided ..olajoii. Tory Sill only
had • little over a month to form an opiMon, so he
thought he must leave it to some other gentleman to
weak on it. Do as they might, they could not alter
It. it was passed and had become law, and they must
abide by the sotuuquence, belt what it might.
Mr. H. N. HosraaL then delivered an aisle speech of
consideraide length. As faa as the Malt Tax was con-
cerned, he was no member of that .1.4 b. but he might
say their lamented friend, Mr. Robert DAtiton, was a
very strong partizan in this matter. He has I.eep
present at some of their meetings, and very warm I
diem, dons had taken place in regard to it. He did
not exactly agree with him in regard to that tax, hut
he looked at it an what Inc considered Its true light,
namely, that raw =aerial ought not to he taxed—
that was an axiom in this «entry As to taking away
the tax and putting it upon something else, that was
quite another matter. He must tell thefr, bp had
formed a strong opinion that there were too anny
tame on manufactured articles that ought not &i exist.
Ifs believed, al far as the Malt Tax was concerned,
everybody would hold up their hands and say it was
the correct Principle. It was Like taking coal from the
aolltoelse—that ought sot to be taxed, As to the
Ground Game Rill, he knew a great many persons bed
an opinion that it was a great interference with the
right of mitred, but or f artuastaly,
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