The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-13 00:00:00

being built on the sites of those which had been
pulled down, and other inducements were being
offered to the labourers to return. He did not be-
lieve that the principles of co-operation as they un-
derstood them could be carried out in farming; but
in a village notorious for its drunkenness he had
promoted the establishment of co-operative stores,
that were doing now a large business on a small
capital, the savings of men who were said not to
have money nor pockets that would hold it. In the
belief that beer was the legitimate drink of an Eng-
lishman, its sale had been introduced, despite the
warnings of the clergyman, who now, however,
confessed that the streets were quieter than they
had ever been, while one of the public-houses in the
place had been closed. (Laughter and applause.)
That might be due to a change in his sermons, or to
the quality and price of the beer sold at the stores.
The education of pauper children in union-houses
was a bad application of public money, and he sug-
gested that more country parishes should follow the
example of towns, and, by uniting their :resources,
erect large establishments, where classification and
discipline could be more complete and training more
efficient. In conclusion, he asked if the rumour
were true that there was any idea of changing the
charter of the association to enable it to discuss
questions pending in Parliament. .

Mr. EDMUNDS, of Rugby, objected to the society
offering prizes for implements they did not want,
and asked if the turnip-cutter could be improved.
There were many implements it was impossible to
improve, and therefore it was useless to go on offer-
ing prizes for them. If there were anything they
wanted, let prizei be offered until it was secured.
The education of the poor was a question which
scarcely came within the province of the society ;
they had more to do with the education of the sons
of farmers. (Oh, no !) He was prepared to main-
tain that the poor were as well cared for under the
Government system as it was possible for them to
be—(oh, oh !) —and it was their own fault if they
did not reap the advantages provided for them. He
suggested that the small prizes now awarded to boys
at the Oxford and Cambridge local examinations
should be consolidated, and the money applied to
sending youths to an agricultural college or putting
them under farmers.

Mr. WooDsdesiderated an improved turnip-cutter,
and said that for farmers' sons he valued practical
more than theoretical education ; and he mentioned
an instance of a farm being let to an amateur, who
was ruined upon it, and then to a practical man,
who made his fortune upon it.
Mr. CAIRD said they might leave the labour mar-
ket to settle itself, as it would do, and urged that it
would be of the first importance to ascertain from
authentic sources what foundation there was for the
rumour of the impending cessation of the supply of
Peruvian guano, which would immediately enhance
the prices of all other guano.
_ _

A MomErt said that the rumour of the exhaustion
of the Peruvian supply had been conclusively denied
on the part of the Peruvian Government.
Mr. CAIRD said he was aware of that, and he knew
also the delicate condition of Peruvian bonds and
the importance of maintaining the credit of the
Peruvian Government.

Mr. WILLIAM LAWSON said that at the beginning
of this year he told his labourers that at its close he
would divide among them one-tenth of his profits in
proportion to the amount of their wages. He would
add his belief that nearly all co-operative societies—
and there were some 600 in the country—did not
consider it to their advantage to sell beer.
Mr. SIMONS said it was impossible for farmers to
advance the price of labour; if they did they would
be ruined. Let those who thought otherwise lead

the way.
Mr. 'nail said supply and demand would regulate
the price of labour. In his time the cost of cultiva-
tion had risen seriously. Emigration carried off the
best labourers, and left the worst. It was better to
pay 3s. to a good man than 2s. Gd. to a bad one
inferior labour of every kind was always the dearest
in the end. He feared that the cottager who had a
piece of land took more interest in that than he did in
his master's. He gave to men with large families the
milk of a cow, and lie allotted them potato land in a
field which he manured, they finding seed potatoes.
He ridiculed the outcry for three-roomed cottages,
believing two rooms best, except for families.
Mr. DUCKIIAM concurred in Dr. Crisp's estimate
of the loss by the cattle plague, and wished that
more had been said about the prevention of the
spread of contagious diseases. The losses from
pleuro-pneumonia laa'l probably in the aggregate
exceeded the losses from the cattle plague. The
society could do s,,Tvice by expressing an opinion at
the Home• office and urging the introduction of a
better system of offering animals for sale in the
home markets.

The CHAIRMAN, in reply, said he claimed to as-
sert the success cf an experiment he had tried,
which showed that labourers would be the best im-
provers of grass land against those who had made
no experiment ; and he defended the offering of
prizes for implements as well to encourage improve-
ment as to secure the exhibition of the best where
farmers were congregated. He would endeavour
to ascertain if there were any useful information ac-
cessible respecting the supply of Peruvian guano.
(Hear, hear.)

Mr. HOLLAND answered the question as to the
proposed change of the charter. He said there had
been a meeting of the committee that morning, and
they had determined not to recommend any altera-
tion of the charter, seeing that the Privy Council
had permitted them to do all for which they would
seek the alteration.
This terminated the discussion.
Thanks were voted to the auditors.
Arr. Astbury and Mr. Corbett were re-elected
auditors, and Mr. F. Sherborn was elected to that
office.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman for his address
and for presiding terminated the proceedings.

Railway and Other Companies.

BODMIN.

A meeting of the shareholders was held at Bod-
min on Monday, at which Mr. Alms, the chairman,
stated the liabilities of the company to be £3,233.
It was resolved to apply for an Act of Parliament,
conferring certain additional powers on the com-
pany. By avoiding a tunnel set forth in the
original plans many thousands of pounds would
be saved, and the line made for about £48,000.