380 MISCELLANEOUS 



The last resolution aroused more enthusiasm than any of 

 the others, although Lord Winchilsea's speech in introducing 

 it was very brief. The Committee which arranged the con- 

 ference were instructed to prepare a draft scheme to give effect 

 to the proposal, and a special meeting of the Council was held 

 in the following February to consider it. This was sent to 

 local Chambers and came again before the Council on 28th 

 February, when, after a long discussion in which considerable 

 opposition was apparent, the debate was deferred. When the 

 matter came again before the Council in April the National 

 Agricultural Union (the N.A.U.) had been launched by Lord 

 Winchilsea, and a provisional council formed ; Mr. R. H. 

 Rew holding an extremely delicate position as Secretary 

 for both parties. In October, when the rules of the N.A.U. 

 came for the last time before the Council, if was resolved that 

 though regretting that the rules and organisation prevented 

 the fusion of the two bodies, it was hoped that they would 

 work harmoniously side by side. Mr. Rew then resigned his 

 connection with the N.A.U. and Mr. A. T. Matthews (father 

 of the present writer) was appointed Secretary of that body. 

 Thereafter, until 1900, there were in existence two societies 

 working for the same ends, having practically the same 

 parliamentary programme, composed to a considerable extent 

 of the same individuals, and, though not " associated " in 

 any way, always maintaining harmonious relations with each 

 other. In 1900 the N.A.U. came to an end, as described on 

 page 384. 



There was no fundamental difference in the organisation 

 of the two societies. The N.A.U., in order to reach the 

 labourers, went into the villages, while the Chambers seldom 

 got further than, the market tow r ns. The Union insisted that 

 its executive must consist of an equal number of landowners, 

 tenant farmers, and labourers, so that each class should have 

 its full voice in directing its policy, whereas the Chambers 

 had no rule of the kind. The Union had a scale of subscrip- 

 tions based on the acreage ow r ned or occupied, with a nominal 

 subscription of Is. per annum for labourers, while local 

 Chambers fixed their own scale in each case. The great 



