PKOCEEDINGS AT GENEUAL MEETINGS. 29 



It was, he said, strange that the third town in Scotland in point of wealth, commerce, 

 and population, and the important agricultural county of Forfar, should be milked 

 on both sides by two other towns which got the Show in turns. He also complained 

 of the constitution of the Directorate of the Society, which gave seven Directors to 

 Perthshire, while Forfarshire had practically none. Although he was beaten when 

 he last brought forward the claims of Dundee — (a voice, "And beaten handsomely ") 

 — no, he was not beaten handsomely ; he was beaten in the most ungenerous 

 and most unhandsome fashion. He was told by one gentleman that if the Show 

 were taken away from Perth the Perthshire Commissioners of Supply would with- 

 draw their subscription, and his reply was that whether the Show went to Dundee 

 or not, the county of Forfar would never do such a dirty thing as that ; and if the 

 county did, he would guarantee the money himself. He hoped the claims of Dundee 

 wovild be taken into consideration by the Directors. 



Viscount Stormont protested against tlie statement that the Perthshire Commis- 

 sioners of Supply proposed to withdraw their subscription if the Show was not held 

 at Perth. 'Whoever said so had no warrant for the statement. 



Captain HENDERSON. — I accept Lord Stormont's apology — I beg pardon, his 

 e.\))lanation, with many thanks, and I am glad to receive it. 



Provost Ballingall, Dundee, expressed the hope that the Directors would see 

 their way within the next three years to place Dundee upon their circuit. The 

 last time the Society visited them was in 1843, but since then the population 

 of Dundee and district had greatly increased ; they had now got the Tay Bridge re- 

 constructed, and there were other reasons why the Society might favourably entertain 

 their request. 



Mr Fkrguson, Pictstonshill, asked what direct special interest the Highland 

 and Agricultural Society had in the Farmers' Supply Association that they were 

 allowed to post their bills on the Committee Room, and got the use of the pavilion 

 for their meeting ? 



The Ch.\irm.\n, speaking as an individual, said he was thoroughly of opinion that 

 Dundee ought to be visited by the Society ; and he believed he had the authority of 

 the Directors for saying that although on this occasion they could not forego the 

 claims of Perth, they would certainly reconsider the claims of Dundee. With 

 regard to Mr Ferguson's question, the Directors had sanctioned the holding of a 

 Farmers' Supply Association meeting in the pavilion, but as it had been objected to 

 they would reconsider the matter in future. 



The Management of the Society. 



Mr Crawford, Balgarvie, Perth, said he had a few remarks to make as to the 

 way the Show had been managed, or rather mismanaged. The members of the 

 Society in the Perth Show District had met some time ago, and after going over the 

 proposed premium list, had forwarded certain recommendations to the Directors, 

 but these had been treated with contempt. A few of them had gone to Edinburgh 

 to ascertain why their recommendations had not been given effect to, and they were 

 told by one prominent Director that the Society did not exist for Perthshire. That 

 gentleman might have retained that piece of information, and handed it down to his 

 family. 



Mr Mackenzie, yr. of Kintail, rose to order. The subject, he said, had been 

 discussed at last general meeting, and could not be brought up again. 



The Chairman said he would put it to the meeting if it was fitting that the matter 

 should be again discussed at that time. 



Mr Cr.\wford. — That is the way all the business is carried on. 



Mr Scott Dudgeon, Longnewton, objected to any stop being put to any expression 

 of local opinion. That was what these meetings in the Showyard were intended 

 for, and he hoped the Directors would not attempt to interfere with free dis- 

 cussion. 



The Chairman said he did not wish in any way to stop an expression of local 

 opinion, but to point out to the members that this particular complaint of the manner 

 in which the representations were dealt with had been discussed by a general 

 meeting of the Society, and was afterwards disposed of by the Directors. 

 1 vThe Rev. John Gillespie said these meetings in the Showyard were most 

 valuable for ventilating any grievances that might be felt by members, but the 

 gentleman should not re-discuss a matter that had been fully dealt with at Edin- 

 burgh. 



Mr Cr.\wford. — "When we went to Edinburgh we were told by a Director what 

 the Society did not exist for. I will tell him what it does exist for. The Society 

 exists for a comfortable living for the officials, and for a week's outing for the 

 Directors. 



Mr P.aterson. — I will be glad if the gentleman will pay my expenses in travelling 

 to the Directors' meetings. 



