86 



ORGANISATION 



review in 1909-10, when it was suggested that a 

 division into more than one section was desir- 

 able. This proposal was not approved, but it was 

 laid down that so far as possible a rotation should 

 be observed by which the three departments of 

 mathematics, experimental science, and observa- 

 tional science should be represented successively 

 in the president of the section ; also that the two 

 subjects not represented by the president in any one 

 year should be represented by vice-presidents. 

 Similar understandings, though on a less formal 

 basis, are found in other sections, as in Section H, 

 which includes ethnology and archaeology as well as 

 physical anthropology. 



There has been from the earliest period a body 

 of opinion in the Association which would limit the 

 number of sections (a) from the point of view of re- 

 stricting the interests of the Association to those 

 of ' pure ' science ; (b) on the ground that the multi- 

 plication of sections implies the multiplication of 

 communications of a highly specialised character, 

 which belong rather to the field of specialist societies, 

 and detract from the general public interest of an 

 Association meeting ; (c) on the ground, as indicated 

 already, that a large number makes an excessive 

 demand upon accommodation in the way of meeting- 

 rooms, and in that way limits the number of places 

 where the Association can meet with convenience 

 and comfort. 



It is probably true to say that the first of these 

 objections has been urged against the formation of 

 the majority of separate sections, down to that of 

 Psychology (Section J) at the present time, but a 

 broader view has prevailed, and sections such as 



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