Annual General Meeting , December 10, 1913. xlvii 
wished very seriously again to direct attention to the terrible condition of the 
disease in the country. A year ago they anticipated that some really effective 
measures would be taken to deal with it. He was a farmer a,nd also a 
veterinary surgeon, and he would like to protest against the injustice that he 
considered rested upon the profession in regard to the methods taken to deal 
with it. It was now twenty years since the Board of Agriculture took it over, 
and if anyone would take the trouble to read the reports of the Veterinary 
Advisors from the outset, he would see that strenuous measures had been 
advocated, and if these had been carried out, he ventured to say there would 
not be more cases of swine fever than Mr. Quested had told them there weie of 
sheep scab. He seriously hoped that every Member would do his utmost to 
induce the powers that be to stamp out this great scourge from amongst them. 
He was sure that if they could only induce the Chancellor of the Exchequer to 
extend some of his civilities to protecting the poor man’s pig and leave the 
pheasants to look after the mangold wurzels, he would be doing an immense 
service to the country. (Laughter.) 
Mr. Bennett Fitch (Ealing) drew attention to the disadvantage of the 
British farmer who had to spend large sums on manure, while corn could be 
grown on virgin land abroad without any manure. 
The President said the questions raised would receive the attention of 
the Council. 
Thanks to President. 
Mr. Martin J. Sutton (Wargrave) said he had the very great honour and 
privilege of proposing a vote of thanks to the President for his services during 
the year. No word was needed from him or from anyone else to induce the 
meeting to pass such a motion. They could not help remembering what a 
wonderful help he had always been. Referring to the question of new 
Members of the Society, if all future Presidents did as well as Lord Northbrook 
had done during the past year, in. nominating so many new Members from 
Hampshire, the membership would soon be increased by several thousands. 
All who had been privileged to sit under his lordship’s chairmanship, either at 
the Royal, the Royal Counties, or elsewhere, realised that he was sitting under 
a chairman or president with a marked ability for the post, and that ability 
had never been more exemplified than that day. They wished to thank Lord 
Northbrook sincerely for what he had done for the Royal. They were pleased 
to know that at the meeting of the Smithfield Club on the previous day he had 
been good enough to become president of that institution for the next year. 
Sir William Vincent was glad to have the honour of seconding the vote 
of thanks to the President, and to endorse every word Mr. Sutton had said. It 
was a matter of great thankfulness that, in spite of the adverse circumstances 
which seemed to beset the world in these times, the Royal Agricultural Society 
had been able to show such a good record of work in the past year, due, in a 
great measure, to the efforts of the President. He heartily seconded the vote 
of thanks to him for his great services during the past year. 
The motion was then put to the meeting by Mr. Sutton, and carried by 
acclamation. Ll . . 
The President, in reply, begged to thank Mr. Sutton for the very kind 
way in which he had proposed the vote of thanks, Sir William Vincent for 
seconding it, and all present for the cordial reception given to it. He felt it a 
great honour to have occupied the position of President of that great Society 
for the past year, and he would always look back with pleasure to his term of 
office. He had found the work very easy, thanks to the able assistance he had 
received from the Secretary, Mr. McRow, and his staff, and Sir Gilbert Greenall 
had relieved him of all anxiety with regard to the Show. He had received the 
greatest kindness from every Member of the Council during the year, and he 
wished to thank them for the loyal support they had given him in carrying out, 
his duties. If, in the future, he could ever do anything to promote and forward 
the welfare and interests of the Society, he would have the very greatest 
pleasure in doing it. 
