CHAPTER XVII. 

 CONCLUSION. 



THE Agricultural Club was, as has been described, an 

 offshoot of the Agricultural Wages Board ; there were 

 those who considered that the decease of the parent did not 

 necessarily involve the slaughter of the child. This view 

 so far prevailed that there have not yet been any formal 

 obsequies, and, on paper, the Club still exists in a state of 

 suspended animation. A few members suggested a con- 

 tinuance of the meetings and others suggested a modification 

 of its constitution. One interesting proposal was that the 

 basis of the Club should be " drastically broadened," and 

 that it should be made " a centre of agricultural activity for 

 the Empire." 



The distinctive and unique character of the Club was, 

 as has been explained in the foregoing pages, that its 

 constitution provided not in a general way that all persons 

 interested in Agriculture could join, but that the three classes 

 landowners, farmers and labourers should have equal 

 status and rights. There are other bodies which invite all 

 three classes to join them, but by the circumstances of the 

 case the overwhelming majority of members are of the two 

 former classes and if labourers were to join they would 

 have no effective share in the control. Even if they join it 

 is very seldom possible for them to attend meetings. Other 

 classes may sometimes have business bringing them to 

 London, but unless there is a gathering of the Unions, 

 labourers and their representatives seldom have occasion 

 to come to the metropolis. The meetings of the Wages 

 Board brought a certain number of workers' representatives 

 to town and enabled them to attend the meetings of the Club. 

 When that occasion for their presence ceased the chance of 

 securing a good attendance of labourers disappeared. 



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