Oxford Journal - 04 September 1819 - Agricultural Association Meeting - Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Surname/tag: huckvale

Oxford Journal, 04 September 1819

Transcribed by Nicholas Adams.

Agricultural Association

FOR

CHIPPING-NORTON and its Vicinity

At a MEETING of AGRICULTURALISTS
and others of Chipping-Norton and its vicinity,
convened by advertisement in the Oxford Journal, at
the Crown and Cushion, Chipping-Norton, on Wed-
nesday the 28th day of July, 1819:-- Present,

Mr.	J. BAKER,	Little Rollwright;
	J. BARLOW,	Great Tew;
	BARNARD,	Barton;
	J. BAUGHAN,	Great Rollwright;
	W. BISHOP,	Chipping-Norton;
	CHAMBERS,	Little Tew;
	R. DAVIS,	Beaconfield;
	J. DAVIS,	Chastleton Hill;
	J. EVANS,	Chadlington;
	E. GARDNER,	Walk Farm;
	W. GARDNER,	Broadstone Hill Farm;
	GUT,	Chipping-Norton;
	W. HARBIDGE,	Brookend;
	T. HARBIDGE,	Rollwright Coombs;
	R. HARRIS,	Fifield;
	J. HARVEY,	Lineham;
	S. HUCKVALE, sen.	Choicehill;
	S. HUCKVALE, jun.	Over-Norton;
	KIMBER,	Little Tew;
	ROACH,	Oatley Hill;
	W. SLATTER,	Great Rollwright;
	SMITH,	Sandford;
	STOUGHT,	Chadlington;
	THOMPSON,	Great Tew;
&c. &c. &c.
Mr. SAMUEL HUCKVALE, junior,
Being unanimously called to the Chair,

IT WAS RESOLVED,
That the individuals composing this Meeting do
form themselves into an Association, to be designated
" The Agricultural Association for Chipping-Norton
and its vicinity," which shall be open to all persons
who approve of its objects, and are desirous of asso-
ciating with them.

That the general object of this Association is, and
shall be, to watch over and protect the interests of
Agriculture; to circulate information in the neigh-
bourhood; and to petition Parliament for the repeal
of any existing laws that may be prejudicial in their
nature and effect; and to enact new laws to protect
its interests; in harmony with, and as essential to,
the welfare of the community at large.

That the immediate and particular object of this
Association is, to correspond with other Associations
of a similar character, on the best means for securing
the restoration of Properity; and to unite with them
on petitioning both Houses of Parliament on the com-
mencement of the ensuing Sessions, to take the very
distressed state of the Agricultural Interest into their
most serious consideration; to revise and amend the
existing Corn Laws; and to impose such a Duty on
all Foreign Corn imported into this Country, and sold
in its Markets, as shall protect the Cultivators of the
Soil from that UNEQUAL and ruinous COMPETITION
which they are now subjected to.

That, without further protection than what is
afforded by the present Corn Laws, the Farmers will
not long be able to pay their Landlords the Rent of
their Farms, because nearly all the produce is con-
sumed in payind the very limited number of labourers
they employ, and the Parochial & Government Tazes.

That the popular opinion, that the Landlords can
effectually relieve their Tenantry by reducing their
Rents, is erroneous; as no reduction that would be
efficient could be realized by them without rendering
themselves unable to bear their share of the public
burdens, and to maintain establishments correspond-
ing with the sphere they occupy in society.

That it is impolitic in Government, and unjust to
the Occupiers of the Soil, to permit Foreign Corn to
be imported into this Country, and sold therein,
without paying an Import Duty equal in amount to
what IS PAID BY THE HOMEGROWER in all the varied
forms of DIRECT and INDIRECT TAXATION.

That, if a judicious Duty had been imposed on the
importation of all Foreign Corn, it would have ma-
terially relieved the very distressed state of the Fi-
nances of the Country, and prevented the necessity
of adding to that most injurious Tax, the Malt Tax;
which, by its previous rigour, had operated surely to
discourage the growth of Barley, to CUT OFF FROM
THE POOR, in a agreat measure, the invigorating and
nutritious beverage they had been so long accustomed
to enjoy; and, by compelling the public Brewer to
adopt an incessant course of attenuation of experi-
mental substitution, had disgusted a great proportion
of the higher and middle classes of society with Beer,
and induced them to relinquish the use of Malt
Liquor altogether.

That it is the opinion of this Meeting, that if the
Agricultural Interest were duly protected, there
would be profitable employment for the Agricultural
Labourers now out of employ; and, except in a few
instances, there would be no occasion for men in
health to apply to the parishes for relief.

That it is the opinion of this Meeting, that all
classes of the community are deeply interested in the
question, Whether Agriculture shall be further pro-
tected or not? For, without further protection, the
labourers cannot be profitably employed; Trade, in
the districts principally dependant on husbandry, will
still continue to decline; the Manufacturers (at a
crisis when they are more especially dependant on
home consumption) must discharge their hands -- still
continue to have them partially paid by the parishes
for the work done, or suspend their work entirely;
the POOR RATES WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE; the TAXES
will not be paid; the Stock-holders will not receive
their Dividends; the Landlords must forego their
Rents; and general degradation and wide spreading
misery will be the result. On the other hand, if
Agriculture is efficiently protected, the prosperity of
the Country will progressively ensue; for, should the
home produce prove sufficient for the sustenance of
the Country, the prices obtained would revive the
repressed energies of the dispirited people, and direct
them into a profitable channel. Should we be par-
tially dependant on a foreign supply, still these ad-
vantages would not entirely cease to accrue, and the
Duties on the Corn imported would effect a reduction
of the National Debt, that mountain of desolation
that overhangs with POTENTOUS GLOOM the prospects
of Britain.

That Government have, on various occasions, by
numerous Acts of Parliament, protected the interests
of the Manufacturer and Merchant, and of the Learned
Professions. That we wish not to object to such
protection, but, that we feel equally entitled to pro-
tection for ourselves, on account of our numerical
proportion in society, the extent of capital we em-
ploy, the amount of taxes we pay, and the vitality
of consequence attached to our employment.

That the business of this Association be conducted
by a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and a Com-
mittee of ten Members; which Committee shall meet
at the Crown and Cushion Inn, Chipping-Norton,
the last Wednesday in October, January, April, and
July; and any five of them shall have power to act.

That Mr. Samuel Huckvale, of Over Norton, be
appointed Chairman for the ensuing year.

That Mr. John Davis, of Chastleton Hill, be ap-
pointed Secretary and Treasurer of this Association;
and to whom it is requested that all Subscriptions
and Donations may be paid, and communications
addressed.

That the Committee of Management for the en-
suing year do consist of Mr. Samuel Huckvale, Chair-
man; Mr. John Davis, Secretary and Treasurer; Mr.
Baker, Little Rollwright; Mr. Kimber, Little Tew;
Mr. W. Harbidge, Brookend; Mr. T. Harbidge,
Rollwright Coombs; Mr. Evans, Chadlington; Mr.
Stought, Chadlington; Mr. Harvey, Lineham; Mr.
Davis, Oakham; Mr. Smith, Sandford; Mr. Thomp-
son, Great Tew.

That a General Meeting of the Association shall
be held on the second Wednesday in November, for
the purpose of agreeing on the Petition to PArliament;
and the Committee are requested to prepare Petitions
to both Houses, founded on the preceding Resolutions.

That a Subscription be immediately entered into,
for defraying the expences attendant on the business
of this Association; and that a Copy of the foregoing
Reolutions be inserted once in the Farmer's Journal,
and once in the Oxford Journal.

The Thanks of the Meeting were then voted to the
Chairman, for his attention to the business of the day.
JOHN DAVIS, Secretary.

A vey liberal Subscription was immediately
entered into.

We the under-signed, do heartily concur in the
preceding Resolutions, although not present at the
Meeting:--

Mr. BARTLETT,	Kitebrook;
Mr. BERRY,	Great Rollwrightk;
Mr. GARDNer,	Heythropk;
Mr. HUGHES,	Great Rollwrightk;
Mr. R. HARBIDGE,	Great Rollwrightk;
Mr. S. HARBIDGE,	Great Rollwrightk;
Mr. WARMINGTON,	Hook-Nortonk;
Mr. WELLS,	M[]is[]