ccxii Half-yearly General Meeting, Decemher 11, 1890. 
jectionable in their nature that he 
thought that the Society should use 
the whole of its influence and do 
everything that was possible to pre- 
vent those rates being made the law 
of the land. As far as dairy farming 
was concerned,the Board of Trade pro- 
posals practically meant giving the 
railway companies the power to in- 
crease their present rates to the extent 
of 140 per cent. It seemed to him that 
this was so serious a matter that it was 
one which the Society might take in 
hand, and help the struggling farmer in 
all parts of the kingdom. He suggested 
" That a sum not exceeding 1,000?. 
should be expended by the Council, 
if necessary, for the purpose of pro- 
tecting the interests of English agri- 
culturists in reference to the proposed 
revision of railway rates by the Board 
of Trade." 
Mr. Kowlandson hoped this ques- 
tion would be taken up. They had 
already associated themselves with 
the Mansion House Committee, who 
were watching the proposals of the 
Board of Trade very carefully indeed. 
It would be wise on their part to con- 
tinue that association and assist the 
Mansion House Committee. They 
should look into this question care- 
fully. It was a very important one, 
especially with regard to the station 
terminals. 
Mr. Feankish, as one of the 
Society's representatives upon the 
Mansion House Association and as a 
Member of the Finance Committee of 
the Society, said he could not see how 
the Society could give so large a sum as 
Mr. Barham mentioned, but hethought 
they ought to give further support to 
the Mansion House Association, per- 
haps to the extent of another 100?. 
Mr. Jasper More, M.P., said he 
was about to introduce a bill into the 
House of Commons for the purpose of 
making the sale of corn by weight 
compulsory, and doing away with the 
measure as the first step towards uni- 
form weight. As that was a sub- 
ject exciting a great deal of interest, 
he asked the Council if they would 
give any aid, advice, or assistance in 
the matter. 
Dr. Ince suggested occasional meet- 
ings for the discussion of subjects of 
agricultural importance, and the issue 
of a weekly Journal. 
Vote of Thanks to Chairman. 
Mr. John Thoenton moved, and 
Mr. W. W. Glenny seconded, a vote 
of thanks to the Chairman for so ably 
presiding over the meeting, which was 
carried unanimously. 
The Chairman replied, saying that 
all the suggestions made should re- 
ceive the careful consideration of the 
Council. With regard to Mr. Lips- 
comb's observations, advertisements 
were regularly put in the educational 
and agricultural papers of the Society's 
examinations, and not long ago, when 
the syllabus was revised, it was posted 
to the headmaster of every grammar 
school in the kingdom. He would 
draw Mr. Laurie's attention to the 
fact that the prizes for agricultural 
horses were being given by the Local 
Committee, and he thought the Don- 
caster people would be credited with 
being about as much alive to the 
hippie interest as any people on the 
face of the earth. The matter referred 
to by Mr. Fowler was already under 
the consideration of the Education 
Committee, and would not be lost 
sight of by the Council, who were 
sensible of its importance. With re- 
gard to Surgeon- Major Ince's sugges- 
tion, the weekly reading of papers 
had been tried in the past, and ab- 
solutely without success : in these 
days busy men had no time to attend 
such meetings. With regard to Mr. 
Jasper More's suggestion, he must re- 
mind them of clause 4 of the Charter, 
that no matter referring to bills before 
Parliament should be taken up by the 
Society. No doubt Mr. Barham's sug- 
gestion with regard to railway rates 
was very important, and the Council 
were fully alive to it. They had sub- 
scribed 100?. to the funds of the 
Mansion House Association, and had 
appointed Lord Moreton, Mr. Frankish, 
and the Secretary as their representa- 
tives upon the General Committee. 
He was much obliged for the vote of 
thanks which they had given him; 
and he had now only to declare the 
meeting at an end. 
The proceedings then terminated. 
