272 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Etc., FOR IRELAND. 



of corresponding- with the General Committee. The following were the 

 members of the Ulster Committee : — 



James Musgrave, D.L., Chairman. 



Thomas Andrews. 



James Dempsey. 



Sir Daniel Dixon, Knt , D.L. 



Sir W. Q. EWART, Bart., D.L. 



John t agan. 



Maurice Fitzgerald (Professor, Queen's College, Belfast^ 



Rev. R. R. Kane, D.D. 



Robert MacGeagh, J.P. 



R. J. M'CONNELL, J.R 



Alex. Robb. 



Thomas Roe, J.P. 



Right Hon. Thomas Sinclair, D.L. 



John F. Small. 



Mr. Horace Plunkett was chosen as Chairman of the Recess Committee, 

 and Mr. T. P. Gill acted as Hon. Secretary. The Committee set themselves 

 to study systematically the methods adopted by the State in other countries 

 for the development of agricultural and industrial resources, and to consider 

 whether these methods might be adopted and adapted to the special con- 

 ditions of Ireland. As a result of their deliberations the Recess Committee 

 drew up and presented to the Irish Government a " Report on the Establish- 

 ment of a Department of Agriculture and Industries for Ireland," which 

 made the following recommendations : 



(i.) That the administration of State aid to Agriculture and Industries 

 in Ireland on the principles to be described can be most effect- 

 ively carried out by including the two branches of Agriculture 

 and Industries, and the Technical Instruction relating thereto, 

 under the care of one Department of Government specially 

 created for the purpose ; and 



(2.) That this Department should consist of a Board 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. 



The recommendations of the Committee, were taken up warmly by public 

 opinion of all shades in Ireland, and especially by the bodies representative 

 of agriculture, commerce, and industry. A very important deputation 

 organised by the Chambers of Commerce of Dublin,. Belfast, and Cork, and 

 representing the agricultural and commercial interests throughout the 

 country generally, waited on the Chief Secretary, Mr. Gerald Balfour, in 

 January, 1897, who received them graciously, and promised legislation on 

 the part of the Government. 



In the Session of 1 899 the Chief Secretary introduced and carried through 

 Parliament a Bill for the establishment of a Department of Agriculture and 

 Technical Instruction for Ireland, which embodied the main features of the 

 Recess Committee's recommendations, and adapted them to the new 



