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local secretaries can tell, there are occasions when it is most 

 difificult to procure sufficient local help to make a complete 

 programme. Clearly, then, if the society is not to collapse, it 

 must look out for its lectures elsewhere. To supply the want by 

 professional lecturers, would require a much larger sum of money 

 than such societies, as a rule, possess. But there is no need to 

 trust to this method for even a small proportion of the lecturers, 

 for, theoretically, an ample supply of competent lecturers is always 

 available for every society affiliated with the Union, and this at 

 very small cost to the local association, viz. — the travelling 

 expenses of such lecturers. There need, then, be no anxiety 

 as to the sessional arrangements. Apart from the Union, it does 

 not seem probable that there would be such a number of lecturers 

 available, at least under present conditions. Thus the value of 

 the Union is greatly enhanced. The method of the appointment 

 of these lecturers may be, and doubtless is, open to objection, but 

 we shall refer to this question presently. 



In addition to the above advantage, we have what is called an 

 "Association Lecturer," i.e., one who, being engaged by the 

 General Council, lectures before each of the societies in the 

 Union, and is paid in part by the Council, and in part by the 

 individual societies. 



Again, the Union publishes a record of the transactions of the 

 various associations, which an ordinary local association would be 

 precluded from doing. These Transactions are, theoretically, of 

 great value, as they encourage the study of local matters, the record 

 of which may be desirable. Each local association with fewer 

 than one hundred and fifty members has a right to recommend one 

 paper for publication, whilst if of more than one hundred and fifty 

 members, two papers may be recommended. Besides this, the 

 general reports of the local associations are recorded, together 

 with that of the Union, and the proceedings at the annual meeting 

 of the Union. Yet again, a new departure has been taken in the 

 publication of short notices, called " Local Scientific Notes and 

 Memoranda." So important a matter does this appear, that it is 

 to be hoped it will be largely supported in future issues. 



