THE RECESS COMMITTEE 271 



creameries and societies increasing, the follow- 

 ing year, to 67. 



All this time Mr. Plunkett had been looking 

 forward to the day when it might be possible 

 to supplement self-help by State aid. But ex- 

 perience had convinced him that organization 

 among the farmers themselves must precede 

 Government action, if such action were to be 

 really efficacious, and not until he had achieved 

 a certain degree of success in the former respect 

 did he move in regard to the latter. Then, in 

 1896, he was instrumental in bringing about the 

 Parliamentary Recess Committee, composed of 

 representatives of the various Irish parties. 

 This Committee made elaborate inquiries abroad, 

 and deliberated as to what could be done to 

 develop the agricultural and industrial resources 

 of Ireland, eventually presenting a report in 

 which, among other things, they recommended: — 



(1) That the administration of State aid to agriculture 

 and industries in Ireland on the principles to be described 

 can he most effectively carried out by including the two 

 branches of Agriculture and Industries, and the technieal 

 instruction relating thereto, under the care of one Depart- 

 ment ; of Government specially created for the purpose ; and 



(2) That this Department should consist of a Hoard with 

 a Minister of Agriculture and Industries responsible to 

 Parliament at its head, and assisted by a Consultative 

 Council representative of the agricultural and industrial 

 interests of the country. 



