XXXI. 



Avas to do, in view of Mr. Lucas's motion that the matter be post- 

 poned until the precise method in which general subjects were to 

 be selected and considered were determined. 



Dr. WooLNOUGH moved : " That each Section decide for 

 itself " what discussion shall take place at its next general meeting, 

 in order to make the subjects sectional and not general." 



Mr. Knibbs seconded the motion, and suggested that it should 

 be put in the following form : " That the Council, while approving 

 in general with the proposal that subjects for discussion should, 

 where possible, be selected two years in advance, prefers to leave 

 the matter entirely to sectional management." 



Dr. WooLNOUCxH adopted the suggestion, and amended his 

 motion accordingly. 



The Permanent Honorary Secretary said it seemed to him 

 that the proposal was superfluous, and it might be awkward in 

 future if the General Council found it necessary to give detailed 

 instructions of that character to the section. 



Mr. Teece : The resolution confirmed at the x-ldelaide meeting 

 is now law. As I construe it, this motion is needless. I presided at 

 the Local Council when the matter was discussed. The whole thing 

 turns on the discussion of Mr. Lucas's amendment, where it refers 

 to these resolutions regarding the early choice of subjects. I do 

 not think we should allow ourselves to be overpowered by techni- ,. 

 calities of this character. Mr. Lucas has already explained that 

 he had no intention by his amendment to override the resolutions, 

 and it seems to me our obvious course to pursue is to allow the 

 resolution to pass. They have already the force of law, having 

 been adopted at Adelaide and Brisbane meetings. Mr. Lucas's 

 amendment seems to me not to interfere at all with them, but 

 merely as to the manner in which the motion should be discussed. 



Dr. Brown : Has not the sectional committee power to choose 

 any subject it likes ? 



The Permanent Honorary Secretary : Yes, but the object 

 of my original motion at Adelaide was to choose subjects for dis- 

 cussion, and the decisions would come with the authority of the 

 whole Association. The whole Association could decree that a 

 certain discussion shall take place at a particular meeting, but leave 

 the details of arrangement for such Association discussions to each 

 meeting. 



Dr. Brown said he saw a great many difficulties ahead. It 

 might be possible that the Association would hold a meeting and 

 have no subjects for public discussion. It appeared to him that the 

 principle of Mr. Maiden's first resolution, passed at Adelaide and 

 confirmed at Brisbane was a good one. There were manj' members of 

 sections who would like to take part in discussions which they could 

 not do imless there was a special time put aside for them. There 

 were certain national subjects appropriate for discussion by members 



