General Meeting, JiiUf 4, 1912. xxxi 



knew whai that was. He asked the Press, however, t<j make it «lear that the 

 recent outbreaks of Foot-and-Moiith Disease were not " Cattle Plague " at all. 

 The statements which appeared in some of the newspapers created a false 

 impression. Those who had had to return their animals home at considerable 

 expense had done so for the good of the nation, and that being so the nation 

 should refund them out-of-pocket expenses. He knew of exhibitors who had 

 looked to this Show almost to pay their rents. (Hear, hear.) He had seen the 

 statement of the President of the Board of Agriculture in Parliament on 

 the previous night ; but he still thought that if some pressure were brought he 

 might agree to this suggestion. It would not be a large sum, because many of 

 the exhibitors would not ask to be recouped ; but there were a considerable 

 number to whom it would be a great boon to have, not only their entry fees 

 returned, but their out-of-pocket expenses refunded. 



The President replied that this suggestion could be referred to the 

 Council ; that was all he could say at present. 



A Member drew attention to what he termed the inefficient catering, and 

 asked why, when the Society went to Yorkshire, they did not employ a 

 Yorkshire caterer. 



Mr. Charles Morris, of St. Albans, asked the Council to consider 

 whether it would be practicable to have in this country a Quarantine Station 

 in which, in the event of such an oittbreak as the present one, animals could 

 be kept for a reasonable time. Many owners of cattle, he remarked, brought 

 their animals to the Show in the hope of meeting foreign buyers. 



The President answered that other societies had considered this question, 

 but the Council would bear it in mind at the proper time. 



Mr. Henry Smith, juu. (Cropwell Butler), asked the Council to reconsider 

 the wool classification. Years ago each breed had a separate class, but now 

 the longwools and shortwools were massed together. He suggested that the 

 old classification be reverted to. 



The President replied that this suggestion would be considered by the 

 Committee that had charge of the matter. 



Thanks to President. 



Mr. James Watt, Carlisle, proposed a vote of thanks to Lord Middleton 

 for his services in the chair. Most agriculturists, he thought, and, in fact, all 

 right-thinking people in the Empire, would regret the statement Mr. Runciman 

 had made in the House of Commons on the previous night with regard to 

 recouping the Royal A^jricultural Society and the intending exhibitors. With 

 such resources behind him — the Development Act to begin with, and his friend 

 and colleague, the Chancellor of the Exchequer — (laughter) — who would draw 

 at least three millions in one year from that most valuable and estimable class 

 of people, the poor maid servant — (renewed laughter) — he thought the least he 

 could do was to recognise the great value this Society had been to agriculture, 

 and to say they should not be liable for — should he call it an act of God or the 

 act of the Irishmen ? (Loud laughter.) At any rate, this question ought to 

 be taken up by the Government. 



Mr. Henry Hawking (Easingwold), in seconding the vote of thanks, 

 referred to Lord Middleton's efforts for the benefit of agriculture, adding that 

 if Great Britain were sought over no abler President could be found. 



The Secretary then submitted the motion, which was enthusiastically 

 carried. 



Lord Middleton. in acknowledging the vote, thanked Mr. Watt and Mr. 

 Hawking for their kind words. When he had been asked to accept the Presidency 

 for this year, he had felt rather doubtful about accepting, as he thought they 

 might have got somebody else in Yorkshire, but on reflection he had decided to 

 accept and do his best. He could tell those present that it was a great honour 

 to be asked to act a second time, and he had done all he could to make the 

 Show this year a success. As to what he had done for the agriculture qf 



