BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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By contrast, District. Agents were envisioned as
"professionals."
Their positions were devised along the lines of the
National
Union reorganization scheme introduced by Middleton in May of
1886. According to this plan, Middleton's nine Provincial subagents
were made responsible for supervising the regional
constituencies of
the National Union.16
The initial report proposed by the General Purposes Committee
called for the appointment of eight agents at salaries projected at two
hundred pounds a year.
Total cost was figured at between twenty and
twenty-two hundred pounds.
An estimated savings of one thousand pounds
annually was expected to be achieved.1?
In fact, the appointment of
District Agents appears over the years to have been a significant drain
on funds.I 8
Nevertheless, their contribution was considerable in terms
of ensuring compliance with policies issued from the Central
Office and
securing greater uniformity among Habitations and regional centers.
16
"National Union Annual Conference," 26 October 1886; NUA
2/1/6. Marsh, The Discipline of Popular Government, p. 199.
1 7 Minutes of the Grand Council of the Primrose League, 20
August 1886.
18 The actual cost of lecturers and agents sent to the
Habitations for the Primrose year 1886-87 is listed at £1,589.9.6.
However, during this period only three months included payments to
agents. Expenses rose in the ensuing year to a total of £1,948.8.10,
suggesting an overall increase in expenditure of a little more than 358
pounds. The Primrose League Gazette, 21 April 1888, p. 4. The
following year the numbers jumped still higher to £2,538.1.5 and the
trend continued upwards. The Primrose League Gazette, 19 April 1890,
p. 3. Nevertheless, the League in its annual report of April, 1888
indicated that its agents were self-supporting, perhaps basing this
assessment on the projected rise in new members and sustained annual
subscriptions achieved through their efforts. The Morning Post 19
April 1888, p. 5.