80 LOCAL TAXATION 



questions affecting agricultural interests ; and the Council 

 respectfully urge upon you the desirability of giving the widest 

 possible circulation to these resolutions of acertaining, if prac- 

 ticable, the sentiments of every Parliamentary candidate there- 

 upon, and of endeavouring to secure the election of representa- 

 tives favourable to the views of the Chambers." 



Then follows a summary of the various resolutions passed, 

 those relating to Cattle Diseases taking first place, Local 

 Taxation next, then the Malt Tax, and finally Rural 

 Education. 



Some use may have been made of this Address in the General 

 Election which took place in December, 1868, but I can 'find 

 no evidence of this. It was the first attempt made by agri- 

 culturists to be heard, as such, in a Parliamentary Election, 

 and possibly this industry may not have been much behind 

 others in taking a step of the kind. But, comparing the 

 phraseology with that of Parliamentary Programmes thrown 

 at the heads of political candidates to-day, one realises the 

 difference in expression and the deterioration in political 

 manners since that time. The present generation of candi- 

 dates would start with pleasurable surprise were they respect- 

 fully asked to express their sentiments upon any given list of 

 questions. 



1869. 



In February the following resolutions were carried : 



" That the unequal pressure of the Poor Rate as at present 

 imposed is a grievance which renders necessary the early and 

 serious consideration of Parliament. That in the opinion of this 

 Council the maintenance of the poor is a national liability to which 

 income from every source should contribute. That, in the dis- 

 bursement of the Poor Rate levied in accordance with the prin- 

 ciple enunciated, local administration should be guaranteed. 



" That the Income Tax affords an economical means of raising: 

 from all income a contribution to the Poor Rate, which may be 

 placed to a separate account in the National Exchequer to the 

 credit of the Poor Law Commissioners, this resolution being with- 

 out prejudice to any better mode of removing that unjust incidence 

 of the Poor Rate which was affirmed by resolutions of the Council 

 on 5th May, 1868, but suggesting a means of redress worthy of 

 careful examination, should her Majesty be graciously pleased to 

 grant the Royal Commission of Inquiry for which Sir Massey 

 Lopes has given notice of motion." 



