344 AN AGRICULTURAL PARTY 



(6) That steps be taken to remedy the anomalies disclosed 

 by the First Report of the Royal Commission on Local 

 Taxation of December 16th, 1898, and especially to provide 

 one uniform assessment for all purposes both Imperial and 

 local. 



The first four replies, taking them in alphabetical order, two of 



which were Unionist and two Liberal, were : 



(a) Strongly in favour. I have advocated this for the 

 last 2 years most keenly. 



(6) Local taxation undoubtedly requires revision. Agri- 

 cultural Rating Act gives temporary relief. 



(c) Expressed approval of the programme of the Central 

 Chamber. 



(d) In favour of practically the whole of your proposals, 

 and, if returned to Parliament, the agriculturists would 

 find in me one ready to watch or to safeguard their interests 

 whenever possible. 



These replies had to be taken as satisfactory, but there is nothing 

 in any one of them to prevent the writer voting against any Bill 

 for revising local taxation, explaining his action with the greatest 

 ease, and claiming that he kept within his pledge. 



13. As this report deals with a matter w r hich affects so vitally 

 the future of agriculture in this country, your Committee recom- 

 mend that before any decision is recorded by the Council it should 

 be referred to the local Chambers for their immediate consider- 

 ation. With regard to the suggestions in the present report, 

 your Committee desire to support the first part of the Lincoln 

 resolution advocating the formation of an " Independent Agri- 

 cultural Party." They are of opinion, however, that the second 

 suggestion of the Secretaries would only end in disappointment 

 and in waste of time and money. Your Committee consider that 

 it is better boldly to face all the difficulties involved in the creation 

 of a new parliamentary party, and recommend the formation at 

 once of a central fund for electioneering purposes. This fund 

 should be kept quite distinct from the current account of the 

 Central Chamber, and should be administered by a Special Com- 

 mittee nominated by, and consisting of members of, the Central 

 Chamber. 



14. Your Committee think that if care is taken much expense 

 may be avoided by selecting constituencies where a Central 

 Chamber candidate would be generally acceptable, and would, 

 therefore, not be opposed. 



15. In conclusion, your Committee are strongly of opinion 

 that the value of such a party as that proposed depends far more 

 on its absolute independence and singleness of aim than on its 

 numerical strength, and recommend that the efforts to establish 

 it shall at first be concentrated on those constituencies whence 

 it would be possible to secure a thoroughly compact and reliable 

 body. 



