Ixviii REPORT — 1886. 



(fZ) ' That the Council be requested to so modify the Rules of the 

 Association as to permit of a Sectional Meeting being held at an earlier 

 hour than eleven, and the Sectional Committee previously, due notice 

 being given to the Section on the previous day.' 



The Council have considered this recommendation, and think it un- 

 desirable to alter the general rules, the resolution passed at Southport 

 three years ago meeting the particular case of Saturday. 



(e) ' That a memorial be presented to H.M. Government requesting 

 them to enlarge the existing Agricultural Department of the Privy Council, 

 with the view of concentrating all administrative functions relating to 

 Agriculture in one fully equipped Board and Department of Agriculture.' 



The Council, after a full consideration of this difficult and intricate 

 question, are not at present prepared to memorialise the Government on 

 the subject of the enlargement of the Agricultural Department of the 

 Privy Council. 



(/) ' That the Council be requested to consider and take steps, if they 

 think it desirable, to memorialise the Government to undertake the more 

 systematic collection and annual publication of Statistics of Wages, and a 

 periodical industrial census.' 



The Council, in view of the recent promise of the late President of the 

 Board of Trade in Parliament as to the collection of Statistics of Wages, 

 are of opinion that it is inexpedient at present to memorialise H.M. 

 Government on the subject, but they empowered a committee of their 

 members to communicate, if necessary, with the Department engaged in 

 the collection of Statistics of Wages, with the view of eliciting informa- 

 tion as to the method proposed to be employed, and to make such sug- 

 gestions as appear to be expedient. 



(g) ' That a memorial be presented to H.M. Government in favour 

 of the establishment of a National School of Forestry.' 



A Committee was appointed to consider this subject, but has made no 

 report to the Council. 



The General Committee will remember that the question of the feasi- 

 bility of instituting a scheme for promoting an International Scientific 

 Congress, described in the Report of the Council presented at Aberdeen, 

 was in effect referred back to the Council to consider whether it would be 

 possible to devise such a scheme. The question has been further con- 

 sidered during the past year, and the Council are of opinion that the 

 difficulties and objections foreseen by several members of the Association 

 have not been met in any of the communications which have been laid 

 before them, and are, in their judgment, so great that they cannot at 

 present recommend any further steps being taken in the matter. 



In accordance with the regulations the five retiring Lfembers of the 

 Council will be — 



Mr, J. W. L. Glaisher. 

 Professor T. McK. Hughes. 



Mr. J. F. La Trobe Bateman 



Dr. H. C. Sorby. 

 D. W. H. Perkin. 



The Council recommend the re-election of the other ordinary Members 

 of Council, with the addition of the gentlemen whose names are distin- 

 guished by an asterisk in the following list : — 



