14 PEOCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



if they passed these resolutions now, there would be no guarantee that they would not 

 be overturned at the next general meeting. At the last meeting the " leaders of 

 public opinion " were all in favour of subsidising their own chemist ; now they wanted 

 the money to go to the local associations. 



Mr Scott-Dudgeon said he opposed the Perth motion. 



Mr Smith, continuing, said this was just a project to enable farmers to get analyses 

 for nothing. It only cost them 5s. at present. 



Mr Dudgeon — It cost 19s. 



Mr Smith — It only costs the individual members 5s. 



Mr Scott-Dudgeon — 2s. 6d. 



Mr Smith — And yet these associations came forward to ask a subsidy. It would be 

 an improper application of the funds of the Society. The time analytical associations 

 might be supported would be if they got into any actions at law with people for selling 

 adulterated manure. 



The Chairman said he was sorry to hear the remarks which had fallen from one of 

 the speakers (Mr Nicoll), and still more sorry to see that they met with some approval 

 from gentlemen present. That gentleman said the Directors had not the goodwill of 

 a large portion of the members of the Society, but in saying so he believed he spoke 

 entirely for himself. He was sorry that remark of his did not seem to meet with 

 approval. He would recall to their nunds that the Directors were appointed by the 

 Society ; and that if the members did not think they were doing their work in a satis- 

 factory way they could, at the next annual meeting, elect other Directors who would 

 do the work better. Reference had been made to the meeting at Perth, but he did not 

 see any animus displayed then towards the Directors ; and until he had better gi'ounds 

 for the cliarge which had been made against them he should not believe it. 



Lord Napier and Ettrick appealed to members to vote on the merits of the 

 question, and not vote against tlie Directors because there was a certain measure of 

 antagonism at present felt towards that body. He was bound to say that he thought 

 there was a feeling of jealousy and want of sympathy on the part of outside members 

 towards the Directors. That such was the case had reached him from a variety of 

 quarters, but that feeling, if it existed, was founded on a misapprehension. The 

 appointment of a committee composed one-half of directors and one-half of outside 

 members, would be a valuable opportunity of liringing all parties into friendly contact, 

 and establishing between them again a degree of sympathy which was perhaps not 

 present on this occasion. For himself, he had great sympathy with the proposals of 

 Mr Scott-Dudgeon, but thought it would be more prudent to pass them through the 

 test of an examination by the committee. 



Mr Nicoll pointed out that he said he personally regretted the existence of the 

 feeling which, he said, existed outside the hall. 



Mr Lindsay, Meadowflat, considered that the amendment simply meant a shelving 

 of the question. 



The Chairman pointed out that the course taken at Perth had been productive of a 

 year's delay. 



Mr Lindsay — Carry out the resolutions before any one has time to object. 



Mr Scott, Spylaw,"^ asked if Mr Scott-Dudgeon meant to retain section No. 6 in his 

 resolution, about which there was a difference of opinion. 



Mr Scott-Dudgeon, in reply, said that as the clause in question did not answer the 

 purpose for which it was proposed, he should consent to its withdrawal. As he did 

 not in any way wish to interfere with the usefulness of the Society in other directions, 

 he should like to insert in clause 2 a paragraph to the effect that the amount to be 

 given annually by the Society should not exceed £250. In the third clause he should 

 insert for the words 5 or 10 per cent., 8 per cent. 



Mr Martin, yr. of Auchindennan, while expressing his willingness to support the 

 Directors, protested against the position advanced by Sir J. G. Maitland that a show- 

 yard meeting was not a jDroper place for transacting business. It was the very place. 



Sir James Gibson Maitland said that what he meant was that while he considered 

 this showyard meeting most valuable for discussion, it might not be advisable to 

 settle such a proposal here. 



Mr Martin— That is exactly what I object to. The Edinburgh meetings were no 

 doubt attended by very energetic members of the Society, but they were not practical 

 farmers. 



Lord Reay said that, with the limitations suggested by Mr Scott-Dudgeon, he did 

 not see any reason why the Directors should not accept the resolutions. In the 

 present condition of agriculture, he felt that the Directors should show that 

 they had some goodwill and some energy to carry out things which were now most 

 important. , 



Mr Smith asked if members of the Highland Society who were not members of 

 local analytical associations were to participate with them in the benefits of this 

 subsidy ? 



