NEED OF ORGANISATION 105 



were not, like those of Ireland, disposed to provide much in the way 

 of funds for a movement in which they through their blindness as 

 yet saw no profit for themselves — only for the country and those 

 plaguy small holders. Our brilliant annual meetings at Grosvenor 

 House and Stafford House and similar aristocratic mansions showed 

 a splendid galaxy of landed aristocracy, to all appearance much 

 interested in the proceedings, but precious few there were among 

 these stars of society who evinced any sympathy with the movement 

 " in their pockets." Though on the right tack, we had, accordingly, 

 to go on pinchingly, and unable to respond to the calls that were 

 made upon us. That was the Board of Agriculture's opportunity. 

 About 1911 the Board of Agriculture offered us its help with a 

 subsidy to be made dependent upon its being represented on the 

 committee and having a decisive say in our business. We old 

 stagers seemed to smell a mus rattus, and on the motion of so well- 

 proved a friend of agriculture, and one who so well knows all its 

 needs as Mr. Adeane, rejected the offer — I think unanimously. 

 Our president, the late R. A. Yerburgh, in the place of the subsidy 

 offered, on his own part generously offered to guarantee an annual 

 additional income of £1,000. So we thought that we had done with 

 the matter. 



However, we had reckoned without the Liberal Government, 

 champion as it was of private initiative and self-reliance. At our 

 next committee meeting two Under-Secretaries of State, who were 

 members, appeared on the scene and used all their persuasive power 

 to induce us to rescind our resolution and to accept the offer. (One 

 of these two gentlemen was destined to become subsequently Presi- 

 dent of the Board of Agriculture.) The gentlemen found a warm 

 supporter in a semi-official member, since deservedly advanced to 

 high office, who argued that by acceptance we should secure, not 

 funds only, but also " recognition " — a prize which Sir Horace 

 Plunkett's society had secured, in the teeth of unconcealed official 

 opposition, through its good work. Like Douglas Home's " erect 

 and proud Caledonian " (a majority voting with the Under-Secre- 

 taries) we drank the poison, and our " spirit " of self-reliance died 

 and was safely buried in the Government grant. That grant 

 amounted at first to not more than about £1,300— which seems a 

 small sum for which to sell one's freedom and the promise of raising 

 up a genuinely co-operative structure. 



However, there was more to come. In 1913 Mr. Runciman, 

 having become President of the Board of Agriculture, decided to 

 put the society, annexed as it now was, upon a luxurious footing. 



