The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-30 00:00:00

WATLINOTON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

At the anniversary_ meeting of this society, last
Wednesday, Mr. HENLEY, M.l'., in replying to the toast
" The County Members," said—lt is all very well for any
man in this room to say it is very desirable that this or that
thing should be done ; but in parliament, as indeed all
other bodies who wish to act in unison, although a portion
may not like the change, it was not a very encouraging
state of things to find that the party who objected to the
alteration of the former policy numbered only rather more
than one-third, or 220 out of the 56.5 members of the house ;
and, under such circumstances, to reverse the policy was
out of the question. If the party to which I belong had
attempted any such thing, it would only have exposed us to
ridicule; for, being opposed three to two, it would only have
been making a stir about nothing. Well, the next question
that turned up was, how far it was possible, by indirect
means, to remedy the evil, and how far they could pal-
liate it by a remission of a_portion of the taxation which
pressed upon the land. The motion which was then
submitted to the house was rather to inquire into that
very complicated question, and ace whether there was any
portion of taxation that pressed unduly upon the occupiers
of the soil, and if so, to relieve that interest of some of the
taxes which were the consequence of the artificial state of
things that had previously existed. I never concealed my
opinions. I was never one of those who were very sanguine
as to obtaining any very. great amount of relief in this
respect. I had my own wishes upon the subject ; and I
know its complicated nature, and it has not yet been satis-
factorily inquired into, so as to give any correct data as to
whether the burdens press fairly or unfairly upon the cul-
tivators of the soil. But I do think that a great change
has taken place in the public mind in this respect ; and I
think also that, for the satisfaction of the party with whom
I am identified, as well as to the country generally, that
parliament has not, as it ought to have done, acted judi-
ciously in not submitting the whole matter to a full,
free, and impartial investigation; for if they had,
then the agricultural party would have been so hr
satisfied, and would not have said, as they now
say, that even the dour of relief is closed upon
them. (Cheers.) Another topic had been touched upon,
and which was technically called the sliding scale and the
fixed duty. I always opposed a fixed duty upon corn,
because I believed that it would not give a sensible ad-
vantage to the British farmer, and that nothing which
did not tend to increase the price of corn to the home
grower would be of any use. Supposing a duty of Ba. had
been imposed, directly there was a scarce year it would
be knocked off. In tact it would be a sliding scale en•
tirely at the arbitrary will of government. I do not be-
lieve that such an amount of duty as I have named would
have materially affected prices, and therefore I do not
believe it would have been of much use ; and I do not
regret having taken the course which I did take upon
that occasion. Whether a low tax or import duty of 41.
or be. per quarter may not be levied as a revenue question,
I shall not attempt to dispute, but I think it would not
much affect prices ;—as a revenue question, it is one which
I think is fairly open to diecussum. (Hear, hear.) But
I do not see that any duty that has been talked of of
late years would, if adopted, sensibly increase prices ; if it
did not increase prices, the condition and prospects of agri-
culturists would not be sensibly affected. (Hear, hear.)
I know that a great many persons have said that an altera-
tion in the rates would not benefit the farmers, but the
landlords. That had been repeatedly cast in the teeth of
the supporters of that principle in parliament, by those
who bad not looked practically into the question. But I
would ask those who are at all conversant with the subject
of settling the relations between landlords and tenants,
whether the landlords have not shown a disposition to de-
crease their rents? And I believe that should anything be
done, so that the tenant might get an abatement of the local
or general taxation, the landlord would not take an advan-
tage of his position in that respect. (Hear, hear.) But
I also believe that the tenants cannot, under any car-
cumstances, look for any great benefit arising from such
a measure. It has chanced to me to look a great deal
into this question beforehand; and it must be remem-
bered that whatever portion of the rates were
taken off, they would have to be paid out of
the general taxation of the country, and to which
landlords contributed in a great degree. Begin,
for instance, and take the income tax ' • why the landlords
pay no less than three-fifths of this tax from the land ; and
all of it would be a direct increase upon the real property
of the country, and would have diminished that which
otherwise seemed to appear a great gain. I voted for look-
ing into the subject ; but I was never so sanguine as those
whofproposed it, and I told them at the time the matter
ought to be looked into in justice to the agricultural in-
terest, and particularly as to the interests of the tenants, so
as to satisfy all whether it was correct or not, and the truth
ascertained on the subject. If there was any gain, then the
agriculturists could have had it, but if there was no gain,
they would at least be more satisfied with the existing
state of things. There is ono matter upon which much
has been said, and we hear of it every day, namely, as
to the general condition of the country. I believe
there has been no diminution of employment is the
agricultural districts, and that the rates generally speak-
ing have decreased. The tide of emigration that has set
in coupled with the deaths in Ireland ;(for we must not
shut her out while she forms a part and parcel of this
country), must have affected our labour market; fur if we
subtract a large number of labourers from the country and
check the increase in population, it is impossible but that
there will be more demand for those who are left. The

nahts we should have no chancre in obtaining a now trial.
Cala% after a cazeful examination of the state of the ,
country, we can show that the change in the corn-laws
has been prejudicial to the majority of the people of
this country, we shall obtain no alteration ; that, I think,
is the plain truth. I have stated the same before in other
parts of the country. No man more opposed the changes
that took place in throe laws than I did. I doubt
whether the benefits experienced by other classes have
been anything like commensurate to the injury that has
been inflicted on the agricultural interest But, whatever
my own opinions and my own wishes may be upon the
point, it is a matter that must be decided in parliament—
whether, as I hate before said, we can make out a case
strong caough to convince the house that the majority of
the people have been damaged by what has been done.
(Hear, hear.) I offer no opinion as to what the future may
disclose. I have endeavoured to inform myself upuu the
subject ; and if I can get hold of facts that will warrant me
in proceeding, depend upon it I shall not be silent in paella-
meet. (Loud cheers.) At the present time those facta are
' not to be got hold of—tho game is not yet played out.
(Hear, hear.) I say it, gentlemen, advisedly, the game is
not yet played out. (Cheers.) Doubtless in the years 1847-8
the poor suffered bitterly. Famine is • fearful thing to deal
with; men 'a minds aro not yet sufficiently recovered from
that state of things to form • solserjudgment upon the question.
Men who could not, perhaps, get a roll of bread, now get
two loaves. [A voice : An excellent job it is to."] It
may be so, but I do not think that up to the present the
people have been able to judge how far wages will come
down, co that their condition will ultimately be better or
aroma by the change. (Loud cheers.) Remember that
the money receipt of wages did not so suddenly change, for
the effects of the change in this respect had been much dis-
turbed by emigration, and the absorption of the labour
power of Ireland. (Hear, hear.) These things, I believe,
have prevented what otherwise would have taken place in
wages. However, I think we are not yet in a position to
judge what the effect will be, and that it would be prema-
ture to hazard an opinion. This is a question which is
deeply interesting to all ; and, as one of your representa-
tives, I feel it a privilege in being allowed to say some-
thing. The question was somewhat opened by my hon.
colleague, end I can assure you that I slid feel anxious to
say something upon the present position and prospects of
agriculture. I am extremely obliged for the kindness
with which you have all heard me, though I know what I
have said is not in accordance with some who now hear me.
I wish I could speak more in accordance with their views,
and again I thank you for the patience with which you
have listened to me. (The hon. member resumed his scat
amid loud cheers.)
The lion. V. HARCOURT, the other county member,
spoke to the same toast, and much to the same effect.