Wednesday, December 11, 1907. 
xlvii 
more each it would have a very satisfactory result. Might he also express 
the pleasure that had been felt by the whole of the tenant-farmers in 
LincoIRshire at the action more than a year ago in going outside the Council 
to elect as their President the popular North Lincolnshire land-owner, Lord 
Yarborough. 
The Eeport of the Council was then unanimously adopted. 
Election of President. 
Sir Albert Muntz moved : “ That the Eight Hon. Victor Cavendish, M.P., 
be elected President of the Society, to hold office until the next ensuing Annual 
General Meeting.” Various qualifications were required in their President. 
They had had some great Presidents in the past, who had no doubt possessed 
the qualifications to which he referred. They required a man of great position, 
weight, and influence, who also took an interest in, and liad a knowledge of, 
agriculture, and moreover they required a hard worker. He thought they had 
all these qualities combined in Mr. Cavendish, and he had no doubt himself that, 
although the Presidents of the past had possessed high qualifications, and had 
carried on the Society with success, they would find Mr. Cavendish equal to any 
of the past holders of the office. He could congratulate the Council on their 
success during the past year, and the Society’s immensely improved position as 
compared with a year or two ago. He thought that with a little effort on the 
part of all the Members, as had already been stated by two or three speakers— 
and it was a very trivial matter for every Member of the Eoyal Agricultural 
Society to secure one more Member to join their ranks — they would be in a far 
healthier and happier position than even they were at the present time. He 
hoped that every Member would make up his mind to assist in strengthening 
the basis of the Society’s operations. He only wished and hoped that 
during Mr. Cavendish’s year of office the prosperity of the Society would be 
increased. 
Mr. Joseph Martin (Littleport) seconded the proposition. He had known 
Mr. Cavendish for many years, and when he (Mr. Martin) had been on the 
Council and had worked with him on various occasions Mr. Cavendish had 
always displayed great aptitude, and he was sure that he would make a very 
good- President. 
The resolution having been carried unanimously, 
Mr. Cavendish begged to thank them most sincerely for the very great 
honour they had conferred upon him by electing him to the important position 
of President. He could honestly say that of all the positions that an English- 
man could occupy, that of being President of the Eoyal Agricultural Society 
was indeed one of the greatest that fell to his lot. He remembered with 
satisfaction his election to the Council some nine or ten years ago, since when 
he had done his utmost to make himself a useful Member of the Council, and 
he hoped that in the more responsible position of President he would not be 
found wanting. He could only appeal for the kind indulgence and generous 
support, not only of his colleagues upon the Council, but of all Members of 
that Society. He felt but ill-qualified to follow in the footsteps of many of 
his distinguished predecessors, but their example, and his desire to make the 
Society greater, would prompt him to use every endeavour he could. It might 
be difficult to do much to increase the power and popularity of 'the Society ; 
but it had so much advanced during the last few years that they had every 
encouragement to persevere, and he felt certain if they all pulled together they 
would do something to make the Society even greater than it was before. He 
thanked them once more very sincerely, and he hoped that he would prove 
worthy of the confidence they had placed in him. 
Election of Trustees and Vice-Presidents. 
The Trustees and Vice-Presidents were then on a show of hands re-elected 
for the ensuing year. 
