FARMING AND FOXHUNTING 



our local " Record," — not much to boast about per- 

 haps, but where at least some of us make an effort 

 to put before members topical subjects. 



Surely when all these advantages are totalled up 

 an objector cannot lay claim, or plead any excuse 

 to his inability to pay his membership subscription. 

 Are they — the subscriptions — not recognized to be 

 even lower than any Trade Union contributions ? 

 Let me quote them for Wiltshire : i^d. on acres 

 farmed, or alternately i^d. on the farm Assess- 

 ment B, with a minimum of 6s. per annum, a mere 

 flea-bite to even the small farmer. I must not 

 forget to mention there is an abatement on Downs 

 or rough grazings of the bigger farms. 



The local branch secretaries have, I know, a very 

 arduous and thankless task to follow annually the 

 collection of these subscriptions. Success or other- 

 wise depends entirely on their personal efforts, the 

 quality of their appeal and the length of their 

 patience. What I think we ought to do is to take 

 our courage in both hands, raise the subscriptions 

 in the County of Wilts and pay our local secretaries 

 on a good percentage basis. I have always 

 advocated this move since occupying the County 

 Chair in 1935, but the cry is perpetually raised that 

 the farmers' financial position does not warrant such 

 a move. Well, of course, that day will never arrive, 

 and so we go on. 



It would be invidious of me to mention personali- 

 ties in the governing body of our W^iltshire N.F.U. 

 They are many ; besides, I have already pulled them 

 to pieces in our monthly " Record." But I must 



130 



