XXU PEOCEEDINGS, NOVEMBER. 



M. Bhys-Jones, on the Elgin Marbles in the British Museum, illus- 

 trated by views shown to us by means of limelight. 



I have now referred to all the papers which have been laid before 

 ns this session, with the exception of those bearing on social and economic 

 unatters. These are, " Notes on the Natural Limits to Occupation on 

 the Land," by Mr. R. M. Johnston, F.L.S.; ''Artificial Obstructions 

 to the Occupation of the Land," by Mr. A. J. Ogilvy ; *' What are the 

 Conditions which determine the Just and Equitable Representation of 

 the People?" by Mr. R. M. Johnston; and " Trades Unionism as a 

 Factor in Social Evolution," by Mr. A. J. Taylor. The attention 

 which is now being given on all sides to social and economic subjects 

 has thus left its mark upon the work cf our Society for 1892, and the 

 papers enumerated above, and the discussions arising upon them, form 

 a marked feature in this year's proceedings. While on the one hand I 

 myself should be very sorry to see the Royal Society of Tasmania 

 so far depart from the original intention of its founders as to develop 

 into more or less of a debating society on social and economic subjects^ 

 on the other, to exclude a discussion of such subjects from a scientific 

 standpoint would, in my view, be the greatest mistake this Society 

 could make. As I ventured to say in my inaugural address to the 

 Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, which met 

 in this city in January of this year : "There never was a time in the 

 history of the world when there was a greater necessity than there is 

 now for a wider and clearer conception of economic truths, for 

 problems of the greatest import are pressing for solution. While, on 

 the one band, no adjustment of these problems based upon selfish- 

 ness and individual aggrandisement, or which does not recognise duties 

 as well as rights, can or ought to stand ; on the other, there is no small 

 danger that an unwise acceptance of some of the more advanced of 

 what are commonly called socialistic views might lead to the motives 

 of human energy and of human exertion being so lessened as mate- 

 rially to interfere with the progress and advancement of the human 

 race. I am not one of those who apprehend catastrophe arising in the 

 inevitable development of a new industrial and social system, but i£ 

 catastrophe does arise, it will arise from want of knowledge, and net, as 

 some fear, from the prevalence of any spirit of anarchy. A wider 

 and sounder knowledge of economic truths will, however, in my 

 humble judgment, in process of time, lead not only to a satisfactory 

 solution of present social dijfficulties, but will tend to develop condi- 

 tions under which culture will be brought more within the reach of 

 all." Holding these views, as I do, most strongly, I should deeply 

 regret if this Society, which is the centre of scientific life in Tasmania, 

 should ever discourage the discussion of such subjects at its meetings, 

 provided, of course, that these discussions are conducted in a scientific 

 spirit. 



But while I consider that the fullest use of the meetings of this 

 Society should be made for the discussion of this branch of science, I 

 am very anxious that the original intention of its founders should be 

 carried out even more fully than it is at present. That was, as you 

 know, to encourage investigation into the plant and animal life of Tas- 

 mania, and to obtain, as far as possible, faithful and trustworthy records 

 of the interesting forms and laws under which mineral, plant, and 

 vegetable existences exhibit themselves in Tasmania. With this view 

 I strongly commend to the Society the plan proposed some time ago 

 to the members, by Mr. A, J. Ogilvy, for mapping out the country 

 into districts, and appointing an honorary representative of the 

 Society in each. I believe something has already been done in this 

 direction, but I strongly advise the Society to carry it out systematic 

 cally. If a representative of the Society were appointed in each dis- 

 trict, the lesidents in such district would know whom to approach with 



