Agricultural and Commercial Society. 29 
matter. Their President liad taken a great deal of 
interest in the proposal and he (Mr. Jones) was quite 
sure efforts would be made by him to carry out some of 
the proje6ls just outlined. Such a scheme would cost 
little or nothing, but in the end give a good credit balance. 
Animals located in one district, could be removed at 
intervals, and, when too old for breeding, be sold for 
almost as much as their original cost. 
He then withdrew his motion. 
Mr. A, R. Gilzean brought forward his motion — 
*' That the Society urges on the Government the 
desirability of its establishing a Board of Agricultuie 
under official control.^' 
He said that several months ago he gave notice of the 
E. motion before the Agricultural Committee of the Society. 
After some delay it was carried unanimously at a meeting 
a few weeks ago, but it was thought better that it should 
go to the Government as a resolution passed by the 
Society. Of course the a6lion the Government had 
taken in regard to the matter was well-known, and it 
would have seemed unnecessary to discuss the motion it 
the President had not said that the hands of the Govern- 
ment would be strengthened by the Society passing it. 
In considering such a matter it was necessary to consider 
the position and fun6\ions, etc., of Boards of the same 
kind in other conntries. In England the Board of Agri. 
culture was one of the largest Departments under the 
Government, and one of the most costly — the total cost 
exceeding ;^ioo,ooo. Indeed, complaints had been made 
that it was being condu6\ed on lines too official, and that 
the results of its labours were principally the supplying of 
statistics and the giving of information. It was alleged 
