Canary Societies, and Close and Open Shows. 383 



are able and willing to undertake the duties and responsibilities required for the 

 transaction and management of the business of the society. 



34. At the termination of each exhibition in connection with this society a 

 supper shall be held, and each member shall be admitted on payment of two 

 shillings and sixpence, and non-members on payment of five shillings each. Prior 

 to such meeting the secretary shall prepare a statement of the society's prospects, 

 showing its progress or retrogression, as the case may be, such meeting and 

 supper to take place within two weeks from the closing of the show. The minutes 

 of all the meetings held throughout the year to be produced on this occasion, and 

 such as may be considered necessary shall be read over to the members. 



35. No alteration shall be made in any of the society's rules unless due notice 

 thereof shall have been given previously to each member, and unless it takes place 

 at a general meeting and be approved by a majority of the members then present ; 

 in all such cases a full quorum must be in attendance. 



36. That these rules be printed, and each member supplied with a copy on pay- 

 ment of sixpence. 



'* Close " shows are being superseded rapidly by the " open " 

 or " all England " shows. Nevertheless, they answer admirably 

 for fostering among the members composing them a spirit 

 of enterprise and zeal, as well as schools of instruction, and 

 they are well adapted as a groundwork for promoting the 

 establishment of "all England" show societies, and for pre- 

 paring fanciers for more extended and enlightened views. 

 Beside these advantages, they will be found an excellent means 

 for teaching those connected with them how to conduct a 

 show in a methodical and systematic manner, for without 

 this knowledge confusion and disorder are certain to prevail ; 

 furthermore, they are likely to cherish a feeling of confidence 

 among their members, which is very necessary in order to 

 manage an "open " show with satisfaction and success. 



OPEN SHOWS. Many years ago, I used to look upon all 

 " close " show societies as narrow and selfish in principle 

 and upon these grounds I condemned them. About thirty - 

 five years ago, in conjunction with one or two others, who 

 were favourable to my views, I got up a show "open to all 

 England." The prizes were of a liberal character, and the 

 show was held in a public hall, in a large and prosperous town 

 in the North of England. Music was introduced as a further 

 attraction in order to gain public patronage, but the Fates 

 were against us, and the speculation was a " losing game." 

 So far as the number of birds entered for competition was 



