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APPENDIX No. 5. 



THE AGRICULTURAL PARTY 



A REPLY TO CRITICISMS BY A. H. H. MATTHEWS. 



THOSE who oppose the formation of an Independent Agricultural 

 Party in the House of Commons ostensibly base their objections 

 on three grounds: (1) That it is unnecessary; (2) that it is 

 impracticable ; and (3) that it is undesirable. One of the most 

 able opponents thinks it is unnecessary because (he says) every 

 possible benefit which could accrue from the formation of a 

 parliamentary group is obtainable by drafting Bills, and by 

 only returning those candidates to Parliament who definitely 

 pledge themselves to support these Bills. I will answer this 

 point first. 



Others say it is unnecessary, because an Agricultural Committee 

 already exists in the House, and that that Committee, and the 

 general desire of members representing agricultural constituencies 

 to look well after that industry, is all that is required. This will 

 be the second point dealt with. 



Let us assume that half a dozen Bills are drafted, dealing with 

 as many definite subjects, and that we are on the eve of a General 

 Election. These Bills are to be launched at the heads of all 

 candidates, and only those who will distinctly pledge themselves 

 to "vote for these Bills, the whole Bills, and nothing but the 

 Bills," may expect to obtain the votes of the landlords and tenants. 

 Now, is it possible to find any number of men who will pledge 

 themselves to all the points and details which one single well- 

 considered Bill must contain ? And if not to one Bill, how much 

 more impossible to find men who will pledge themselves to more 

 than one. If we are to content ourselves with only one Bill at 

 each General Election, we shall be very old men before we get 

 much in the way of reform. But supposing, say, fifty such men 

 were found and returned to Parliament, and by great good luck 

 this Bill obtained a place in the ballot, what happens then ? 

 It probably passes its second reading and is referred to a Standing 

 Committee. But, however well considered a Bill may be, it is 

 extremely improbable that it will emerge from that Committee 

 as it entered it, and if it does not, what becomes of those members' 



