144 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



in which these recommendations could be efficiently carried 

 out was by the formation of a Central Forest Authority for 

 Great Britain and Ireland. It was pointed out, however, that 

 no notice having been given the motion could only be taken 

 up at a special meeting, for which there must be a requisition 

 from forty members. More than forty members expressed a 

 desire, by a show of hands, for such a special meeting, which it 

 was accordingly agreed should be held. 



Sir John Stirling-Maxwell said: — "There is one duty I am 

 sure you will all want to join in performing before we separate, 

 and that is to pass a hearty vote of thanks to our retiring 

 President, Sir Andrew Agnew. The Duke spoke of his pen, 

 and there is no doubt that his pen has been a great help to us, 

 but I think he has helped us even more by his wise counsel 

 during the last two critical and trying years." 



Sir Andrew Agnew. — " I am extremely obliged to all of you 

 for the very hearty and far too flattering way in which Sir John 

 has proposed this vote of thanks, and the exceedingly cordial 

 way in which you have all received it. I can assure you I 

 look upon it as a very great honour to have been President of 

 this Society during the last two years, and I only wish I had 

 been able to do more than I have done for it. If I have to any 

 extent satisfied your wishes in the matter, I am sure that I owe 

 it mainly to the very kind support that I have received from the 

 Council and from all the members of the Society. No one 

 could have had a pleasanter Council to work with than I have 

 had. We have had altogether most harmonious meetings. I 

 should like to take this opportunity of thanking all my colleagues 

 in the Council for the assistance they have given me, and for 

 the consideration they have shown me in the two years I have 

 been President." 



The Chairman, in congratulating Sir John Stirling-Maxwell 

 on his appointment as Assistant Timber Controller, said they 

 were fortunate in having Sir John in this office, for they could 

 rely on him being absolutely straight and fair to everyone. 



