THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL UNION 379 



the occupier injured by the neglect, a justice's warrant to enter 

 on the defaulter's land, in order to carry out the necessary works, 

 must be obtained. This warrant is to be granted if the justices 

 are satisfied that the injury has been caused by the neglect of 

 the occupier whose land is to be entered." 



The National Agricultural Union. 



Agricultural depression had become so acute, and the 

 leaders of both political parties seemed so entirely heedless 

 of its general conditions, that when, in November, 1892, the 

 Lancashire Federation of Farmers' Associations suggested 

 that a national conference should be convened, the proposal 

 was warmly taken up. Invitations were issued to every 

 known agricultural society to send delegates, and on 7th and 

 8th December of that year there was held what was probably 

 the largest, and was certainty the most representative agricul- 

 tural gathering that has ever been got together in this country. 

 The Chairman of the Central Chamber (the Right Hon. James 

 Lowther, M.P.) presided, and resolutions were adopted on 

 the following subjects : 



(1) Pointing out that the extreme depression had become 

 very critical ; that it was due to a continuous fall in prices ; 

 that land was going out of cultivation ; and that it was a 

 matter of the highest national concern that the progress of 

 this calamity should be arrested. 



(2) That all competing imports should pay a duty not less 

 than the rates and taxes levied on home production. 



(3) Supporting bimetallism. 



(4) Local taxation. 



(5) Compensation for unexhausted improvements ; aboli- 

 tion of the law of distress ; equal division of local rates between 

 owners and occupiers. 



(6) Approving the principle of co-operation. 



(7) The extirpation of tuberculosis. 



(8) The formation of an Agricultural Union to give effect 

 to the foregoing resolutions, to frame measures needed in the 

 agricultural interest, and to organise voters in every con- 

 stituency, pledged to return, without distinction of party, 

 candidates who agree to support such measures. 



