248 THE CREATION OF 



Without any personal application of that expression of opinion, 

 he thought they were very well off as they were. They had a 

 good Department presided over by Mr. Sclater-Booth, their friend 

 Mr. Read being second in office, and agricultural interests could 

 be well looked after by those gentlemen and their Depart- 

 ment." 



On 2nd March, 1875, the Council nominated representatives 

 to join a deputation to Mr. Disraeli from the Chambers of 

 Commerce, but there is no further reference to this deputa- 

 tion so apparently it fell through. 



In 1879 Mr. Sampson Lloyd carried a resolution in the 

 House of Commons in favour of the establishment of the 

 new Department, and at the November meeting the Council 

 re-adopted the report of 1874 on this subject. Major Craigie 

 (Secretary of the Chamber of Agriculture) attended the 

 autumn meeting of the Chambers of Commerce at Belfast, 

 when the matter was discussed and a cordial understanding 

 between the two Associations was arrived at. 



On 4th March, 1880, the Council adopted a form of petition 

 to the House of Commons, praying that such measures might 

 be adopted as would give effect to the resolution approved 

 by the last Parliament. At this meeting the Council again 

 appointed representatives to join a deputation to the Prime 

 Minister to ask for the appointment of a Minister of Agri- 

 culture and Commerce. 



On 3rd May, 1881, the Council warmly approved the terms 

 of a motion of which Sir Massey Lopes had given notice in 

 the House of Commons. This resolution was moved on 

 13th May and was accepted by the Government, and on 

 31st May the Council expressed its gratification at this success 

 of the proposal which they had been advocating. 



The Royal Commission on Agriculture (known as the 

 Richmond Commission) issued its report in 1882, and among 

 its recommendations was one in favour of the appointment 

 of a Minister of Agriculture. 



The Prime Minister (Mr. Gladstone) was asked to receive 

 a deputation from the Chambers, as no action had been taken 

 in the direction of establishing the new Department ; but, 

 although declining to receive the deputation, he asked that 



