136 ANNUAL MEETINGS 



The total number of the overseas visitors was 

 300, of whom 155 participated in the Commonwealth 

 grant. These included 35 members and guests from 

 British overseas dominions and from foreign countries. 

 On the outbreak of war (which occurred, as will be 

 seen, just as the general meetings were about to begin) 

 some of the foreign guests became enemy subjects, 

 and their position caused anxious consideration. 

 All, however, were enabled to attend the meetings, 

 though their return to their homes must in all cases 

 have been rendered difficult, and was in certain 

 instances delayed under military necessity. 



The course of the meeting, briefly summarised, 

 was as follows. An ' advance party ' of about 70 

 overseas members reached Western Australia at or 

 before the end of July and spent a week or more 

 there before joining the ' main party ' en route for 

 Adelaide. At Perth, Western Australia, official 

 lectures were given, and excursions took place. 

 The whole overseas party (practically speaking) 

 was united at Adelaide, South Australia, where, 

 from August 8 to 12, two evening discourses and 

 a citizens' lecture, and also two of the sectional 

 presidents' addresses, were delivered. One of these 

 last was given by Sir Charles Lucas as president of 

 the Geographical Section : he, as we have seen, was 

 a prime mover in the original proposal for the 

 meeting. The other was the first portion of the 

 agricultural address. 



It was during the meeting in Adelaide that the 

 first opportunity arose for any official consideration 

 of the effect of the war on the meeting. As soon after 

 their arrival as possible the majority of members of the 

 Council present met ' in order to assure the Australian 

 authorities of their acquiescence, on behalf of the 



