The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-11-17 00:00:00

LOW Nebo.

CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURS FOR DOUBT.
A meeting of those friendly to the formation of •
Chamber of Agriculture for Dorset was held st the
Dorohinter last Saturday morning. There
man • fair attendanee, and the proceedings were hearty
and uosnimous in favour of the object, io view. Tim
um.ting comprised- C. J. Parke, Esc., Gm High Sheriff
of the scanty, J. Bremer, EN., Lient.-OoL litowerd.
H. Williams, lgsq., E. L Kindereley, Fro. G. J.
Andrews, Esq.. J. F. Hodges, Esq., Dr. Aldridge, Mr.
R. Genre and Mr. H. Lock (hon. mos.), Mr. O. Flower,
Mr. J. Pitneld, Mr. J. Tett, Mr. B. Damen, Mr. H.
Mayo, Mr. W. Hibbs. Mr. J. Pitileld, Mr. FL Pocks,
Mr. J. Ingram, Mr. W. Cookerem, Mr. flonme Andrews
(Rimpton), Mr. J. Lovelace, Mr. R. Fowler, Mr. Levi
Groves, Mr. CI. Hill, Mr. O. Rent, Mr. T. A. Homer,
Mr. B. Whittle, Mr. W. Mayo. jun., Kr. Dawkins,
Mr. Henry Pope, Mr. S. Symea, Mr. J. Pops, Mr. J. J.
Babes, Mr. T. Chick, Mr. H. Coekerani, Mr. Sprat*, Mr.
O. Warne, Mr. J. Fowl'', Mr. D. Symonds, M. R.
ekratridat, Mr. J. A. Damen, Mr. W. Opener, ko.
The HIGH Segue/ (C. J. Parke, Esq.) took the
chair, on the motion of Mr. Flower, seconded by Mr.
J. Bain, and briefly opened the proceedings, sod
glad the following communisation :
. .

-
J. IL e.0.m., Rm., regrew that he cannot promise to be
pement glad to bermine • member.
Theft mW.IL B. POalltan, XP.—lf entirely free from
parry politica shall be happy. as one of the members of the
county, to render what awiatanos I can in hathering the
objects of the Chamber, hut unable to attend.
11. S. Yeareak, Em.—lfere an eneagement which I cannot
p 0 int Let me know the Mem and objects. and If the
sem.it rid. of the whets are in favour of It. I shell be happy
to render whet eminence! can.
Lord Pottosons.—As I •o not. owner of land In Bonet, I
feel it would be warmly proper for me to st•end atie meeting.
I may add that that I have taken great interestin th. formation
end welfare eta similar chamber in Devon, hollering that the
esridoishavat of Wel% chambers le of great Importance to the
egricultural interest.
Joel Faof an, ISsq.—Ant afraid it will not be In my power to
attend the Prniewod meeting at Dorchester. From this place
ten am engaged tn go to_ St tal land, and tb.
great from he mi I way. I should be Very eat to
become. member
et the ees.ebee. I, .0 hought ediheble tof Mine De. ani to Lamle
al may have opportunity' in Its Llellberetions. For the reamnel
weintloned to you ewe. time Owed should be unwilling to under.
olletalrepondhtitlea
O. W. renews, tea , regrets he will be out of the county
on Saturday; objects to adopt Income T. as the bade of Poor
Law Tasati,et,
H 0 9TraT, gel —I wee going-to London on Saturday oa
Memo% but I might goon Friday. end corns down on Saturday;
let du notrockon on me. I shrill be anxious to we whet
gene at your emoting. lls ale %ye my doer* to watch over the
Intero4oot my mastitis/wog. and to meet their wishes. I hope
mai trent p dales will not be allow. llt your gatherings. The
Chamber Mould have (or its object the good of the public and
equaljustior 15 oIL
E. L. KISDRISLIT, Req., moved the first resolution,
that in the opinion of thin meeting it id eipedient to
setablish • Chamber of Agrimilture for the county of
Donut. He observed tint the object of the Central
Chambers of Agricultoral wne expressed to be "to
watch over all measure' affectlng the agricultural
Interest, both in and oat of Parliament." This hri con-
sidered • most reasonable object. Other intermta had
there C umbers of Commerce, and he could well con-
ceive that it would be materially to the advantage of
the agricultural interest to have in each county a
Chamber of Agriculture; he Was glad, therefore, to
Wt up hi. voice In favour of the present movement.
Mr. C. Pointe. in seconding the motion, said that
there were now 67 Chambers of Agriculture eatabliehed,
which were supported by 15,000 members, sod be
thought very little consideration would lead them to the
conclusion that they were really wanted. Chambers
of Commerce had been established, mid what had been
the result? Since then oommercial men had increased
their bosinens, not doubly, but four-fold. It had been
quite the making of Liverpool and other such places.
Commercial men thought it necessary for their interest.
to fore such Chambers, and he thought, that if the
agrionitrobta studied them matters, they would find it
would be for their Interest that a Chamber of Agricul-
ture should be formed. He did not regard it aa the
Milne of ore particuler elasia—not merely the Onion
farmers, but of the owners of land, the tenant farmers,
the oixtmiers of hounie m far aa the rates are consumed,
and especially clergymen. Of late years the rates in
this (simony have advanced so raoidly that it has
brooms a matter of astonishment how people are able
to meet them. The fint record of the peyment of
poor'erates we. in 1776, and, at the present time, the
poor's-rates were ten time. greater than they were then ;
and, if they (took the period of their own experience,
the poor's-rates had been doubled, and the county rates
Increased four.fold. This had been caused by charges
levied by Act of Parliament being placed upon • ml'
called poor's-rate. What are poor-rates? One would
anppoee they constituted a fund solely for the relief of
the poor i but, in truth, the poor don't get bad the
money; it is applied to all eerie of purpose., and, on
the face of it, it almost has the appemanoe of being a
fraud on the public, to collect money for poor's-rates
when it used for its present purposes. But it is all done
by Act of Parliament, and those who hail not thoroughly
studied the mutter had little ides how the money was
used arhich was collected as poor's-ratea. The business
of this county was presided over by • noble lord
who had studiel these matters an much as any
men in the world, end he (the Lord Portman)
said "therm. were great difficulties" in dealing with this
question. But be (the speaker) sail that it men had
the will, it might be depended upon throe great dilfi•
cultico would become dissolving views, nod • way would
be found. They know very well that no man had
brought more cepenee into this county than the noble
toed who presides at quarter He
Lord Portman took an Active pert in the formation of
the comity poise force—he wee not there to say whether
that was • right or a wrong step, but he eerteinly mid
that it was wrong to pay for the police in the present
m , for the charge now fell mainly on one or two
classes, whits the re.t paid a mere nothing. If an
agriculturist rated • farm at MOO • year, be we. • lucky
man if he did not pay £lOO • year in rate.; if a
clergyman had a living worth £21.10 a year, he wes a
lucky mac if be did not pie £4O or 1:50 a year in rat's;
and, if they cause to the little freeholler—the man who
by the sweat of his brow had obteinerl a house worth
£5 or £6 a year, be WY a lucky man if he did not pey
El a year in rate. Oath. oilier hand, take an extreme
ease—a gentleman bolding funds to the amount of
5:20,000 a year—he might lime at our clubs in London,
spending tie season in the metropolis, and might take
a large district of the country for his amusement in the
way of shooting, be might have his yacht for pleantre,
and in these various ways he might spend his £20,000 •
year, Laving the protection of oar laws and the pills.,
thee of our highways, and all tie other advantages
of the country, without contributing to the rates so
mooh as the value of the snap of my fingers. This was
ens of the questions which would be brought before
Chambers of Agriculture. They were aanocietiona to
enable them to tan care of themselves. He quoted an
extract from • speech by Mr. Gladstone in which the
right lon. g wlernan expressed hums. If fevourable to
the principle of County Financial Boards. Such was
the feeling id Mr. Gladstone, who, f ir coital i. would be
a leading man is this county for many years to come—
whether or not they agreed with the right boo. .
man's politics did not n.atter. They were there to form
• Chamber which most of necenity ded with political
questions, but it wes important that they shout, throw
party entirely aside—(hear, bear). They did net wieh ;
it to be a party association ; political it must be. In I
retentions to county rates, he was very much 'truck by I
• remurk inane by Lord Portniau et the lest quarter
gess one. To show that the magistrates were Parti-
cularly careful over the money whieb cones into their
hands, his li•rdellip contrasted the charges for keeping
prisoners in the county gaol with the charges for
keeping prisoners in Poole geol. Now his lordship dil
not want hum (Mr. Foeler) or any other man to tell I
him that the charges in a x toil busmen were nece.sarily I
notch greater than in a wholesale business, and lie (Mr. I
Fowler) compered Pale to • retail and the county gaol
to a wholesalu hinniesn for the maintenance of prisoner.
beer). Speaking of the county gaol he must
my that they were particularly well off in having as
good &gaoler lie believed as there ever wan in England:
no man had done more to keep down the expenses of
that gaol than had Mr. Lawrnnee--(hear, hear). In
regent to soother question before the last Qoarter '
Sessions, that of making the bedrooms of our felons
very comfortable indeed—not only lighted and wired, ,
but warmed sad node aa comfortekle as they could be
he should like to auk if our poor people get all
these comforts in ther house.? if they have
their bed o,nis warmed? yet many of these poor
people, have to contribute to the rotes levied for pro- •
eliding such oomfor to at the county gaol I—(hest, Lear). '
But the magistrates could not heip thein.hree in this
metier it was forced on them by Act of Parliament ;
end it, therefore, became the duty of the ratepayers to
combine to impress on their representative. in Perin- I
mint that them things should not be forced upon the I
magistrates, and then they would be supported in
keeping down the expenditure. Referring to financial I
boards, be said be believed they would soon be
estehlasbed by law, and that representatives of the rate-
payers would tie ohosen from the Board tif Guard-ans.
But, be said, he did not expect that such Boards would
result in any great decrease of the expenditure, but he
believed the) would have a good effect in easoctiating
with the magistrate's men of busousee who would look
more minute') into matters involving expendeture. No
man edmired the memo rates more than he did: he
believed they dud their duty to the best of their ability ;
but county expenditure repairs constant watchfulness,
and be should hail the day when County Financial
Boarda were established. He said this with the greatest
reelect for the usegutratee who had hitherto had it all
in their own hand.. There had been • rusetin in
London of the foreign bondloddera, who nought to obtain
the eupport of the eeuntry in foreleg foreign Goverti•
men Is ti'meet their cl•inte, pore, mrre hal already
borrowed sufficient money in this epee,— to pay twenty
eteiling a year in interest. Be should like to
know how mush of the prolli• derived by them bond.
holders foond its way to the poor'soutoo, belie, ,
It was but a very small portion, aid metnely e little w,:; I
It was paid to the national fond aa income tax. He
hoped there would be found loathe alstrit stnengb In I
Devitt to form an association for looking our their
interest, in thus matters—(llBer, hear).
The resolutioe wee carried unanimously.
Lieutenant-Colonel STIWAILD oongratuleted them on
the movameot now made. and expressed • hope that the
proceedings of the Chanuber would be so conducted the%
the good feeling which now 'lints between lendlorrie
and tenants in the ciunty will be maintained. He
proposed that the gentlemen present be • eommittee for
cerryieg the (ongoing resolution% into effect, cad that
they sit at ono..
Mr. (newt ANDEZWII 'needed the motion, and
spoke at 0. Mud. rable length, but the the pressure
of the election reporte prevent, our doing more than to
hid cote ane satleet isnists in hie address. He held that
• Chamber of Agricultaus was required in every o ion.,
in order that its representetives in Parbeuterit migot
know their minima, and be supported by their Coll./tie,
jammer., whoa any matter affecting the agricultural
interest was before the Hone. of Commons. Chemin re
of commerce had loin fulfilled this important function
in the manuf.creriog district., but the nricalionera
lusd untilreprotly no amociallOwl with that object.
1. of organisation, be pointed out
;Ler rou'itiy afforded an expellent division for sub
eb„,r,her. As inhaler woke. thee had the' Bonds of
Cnardisna, when seeds Parish wee represented. Haying
odabli.aaa a ...sty meociation, they should eadesveur
to *km the support of be moo, se possible la every

perish. Vestries
_being held, sag=Bl7.diec=aPetli
the seemistiou, Mama *Mot &
the movement to 'spiciest the:A& Th's• pereehiel
represented..s night then vaatagessesly elect from
amongst themodess twopences to repropose eselt intim
In the °mined of the amogistion. The managing omit-
'mitts. would call the magoistion together whenever it
was requisite. The ...emote! working or the theociation
depended very much on their appointing • small mangl-
ing committee %mg a good seeretery, who would
thoroughly sure out tbe a.toalo for lit* oqmoisation of
the county. He had baud it said that there was great
spathy in Dorset, sod the tdr1°011•14••• wen d'214411
az:6jo
iot to eieja eadegiaatios, but speaking from his
nee in cionneetims with the Somerset Chamber of
Agrtmltors. he said if they petsevered a successful
mats woe agetain. ge referred to the appearance of the
Cathie Plague in 1861, sod the great ravages it made
before any efficient means were adopted to stop
It , and said be bed no doubt that if there had
been at that tiro* Chambers of Agriculture established
' throughout the country, such information and pressure
would have been brought to bear upon the Government
that they would at ones have adopted proper premationi,
by dosing the porta, or having cattle aleughtered on
arrival, and not have waited till the plague wee slaying
13,000 • week. He wss greatly in favour of Financier
Santa *hough be did "1 lulticieste tliev would reduce
the ezpenditure id. or Id. in the pound, but he thonght
it would be • great advantage to the magistracy to be
associated in matters of ammos with men really maimed
in the practical business of the twenty. De thought ii
would also teed to enlisting many magistrates with them
to bring about a ohmage in the ayatem of taxation by
which about 300 millions of annual Meows is exempted
from paying poor's-labia He then spoke of the Heretic.
of the 100 millions of real propeity bearing 11 millions
of taxation, to which 200 millions of personal prop-rty
pays not • farthing. The mercantile marine engaged an
enormous amount of capital, but all their lame, doh,
blind, lariat* and disable I became • chugs on the
poor's-rate, it was not thrown upon the mereantile
iaterest at all, bat directly upon the interests
wish which they as owners and occupiers
of land were associated. Instances of similar injustice
would be stigmata to them. There wail nothing limed
in such chart**, and there meld be no doubt that on
every principle of equity and justice all realised properly
should bear its fell share of abet was called local
t ixation, but whieb was regally imperial taxation. To
effect such as 4, esportant change organisation wee
Imperative, and/11 the matter were well ventilated, be
felt 'nee that it would result in such • combiliction that
no !boatel could resist it. Bin it was objected that if
they bad a national rate for the purposes to which the
poort-rate is now applied, the guardians in the several ,
111111013, would become extravagant; but, be argued
that Dm er-officio pea-thane would not act as was
suggested, beams the national tan would come more
directly upon them than now,and thus make them mote
careful • th.t guardians, .ho are tradesmen, would be
sti.oulaied to coonitny from the fact that the clangs
would muse them to pay moie than they do now ; and
that parish guudians would be equally careful of the
money, bemuse unlimited relief to the poor would
entail u a them not only their full there of the
ino rates, but would raise the prim of labour in
their own parishes. it had been suggested that Govan-
went should nominate &certain number of the guardians
to assist in dispensini stational rata He should not
object to that. He then spoke of the large amount of
amount of capital invested in trifle, Instancing
Messrs. °minuses, the brewer., which is exempted
from poor'a-rate, except for the buildings
In which the trade is carried on, and asked why
£lOO.OOO invested in trade should be treated differently
in respect to rating from £lOO,OOO invented in land or
house,. The Deify New had argued that the agr.oulteral
interest should bear the poor's-rate entirely, because
ttey who employed the labour of the country ought to
beer the rate. In the lase anneal report of the Poor
Law Board it was stated that only 15 per cent, of the
labour of the country was employed by the agriomitarista
If that were no, surely they ought not to pay 100 per
eine of the poor's-rates ? Statistics obtained a leer
years KV showed the immense prepoaderance of the
labour employed in the commercial end mercantile
districts over that in the agricultural districts, ant
therefore, be thought it was high time that they should
not be taxed in the extreme way they sow were, while
more than 80 per mat, of the capital otherwise employed
was immune
Carried unanimously.
' The Mayor of Dorchester (J. F. Bottom Esq.) in an
able speech moved that the managing committee epe-
eist of Meagre L Groves, B. Demon, J. Homer, and J.
' Pope, with power to add to their number.
Mr. W. COCKLE/At seseaded the motion, and it was
I carried. _

On the motion of Mr. J. Pore. seconded by Mr. L.
Gnome, • vote of thanks was passed to the 'fish
Sheriff, . . . . .

Mr. Paacz, in acknowledging the oompliment, said
It should be distinctly understoad that the Chamber
did not pledge itself to advocate a national rate, and
that party politics were strongly objected to—(bear,
beer).
The proceedings then closed.