THE AGRICULTURE ACT 85 



very narrow limits of variation, accurate for 

 the whole country) shows that even if after 

 1926 the Ministry succeeds in pushing financial 

 responsibility for small holdings back on to 

 the shoulders of the county ratepayers, more 

 money will have to be found from imperial 

 than local sources for the financing of Agricul- 

 tural Committees. 



Although for the present the County Council 

 has to find only about 3 per cent, of the 

 Agricultural Committee's total expenditure, 

 the whole of the Agricultural Committee's 

 accounts have to be included in the County 

 Budget. This brings them within the control 

 established by Section 80 of the Local Govern- 

 ment Act of 1888, which enacts that no 

 expenditure of over £50 shall be incurred 

 except upon a resolution of the Council passed 

 on an estimate submitted by the Finance Com- 

 mittee. A more flagrant example of the tail 

 wagging the dog it would be hard to conceive. 

 Although the county rates will find one- 

 thirtieth of the expenditure, the County 

 Finance Committee will have absolute control 

 over the policy of the Agricultural Committee. 

 I understand that some obstinate County 

 Councils have (louted the Ministry of Agricul- 

 ture Act in its demand for Agricultural Com- 

 mittees composed only of agriculturists ; but 

 the most perfectly constituted Committee will 

 be under the control of the dominating and 



