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CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 339 
It may be asked, Why not economise by printing less? The answer is 
that nothing, except an occasional Presidential Address, is printed but the 
results of local investigation or what is helpful in such investigation and may 
encourage it ; and there is no other local medium for the publication of such 
matter ; and also that many of the members live at too great a distance from 
the places where meetings are held to attend them, and therefore can only be 
retained on our list by giving them something worth having in the Trans- 
actions in return for their subscriptions. 
A joint discussion then took place on the two subjects. 
Sir Alexander Pedler (British Science Guild), in reply to an invitation 
from the Chair, said he could only give the meeting information on the 
subject of the deputation of the British Science Guild, about eighteen 
months ago, to the Postmaster-General, with a view of obtaining a reduc- 
tion in the rate of postage on the publications of scientific and learned 
societies. In that connection about 110 important societies were 
approached, and almost all were strongly in favour of the proposal as 
giving much-needed relief, and they joined in the arrangements which 
culminated in the deputation. It was considered most anomalous, and 
indeed unfair, that while printed matter, consisting largely of advertise- 
ments, on which a profit was made, and which are absolutely of no 
permanent value, could, if only registered as a newspaper, be sent by 
newspaper-post, under which a weight of five pounds cost only a halfpenny ; 
on the other hand scientific publications, such as those issued by the Royal, 
Chemical, Physical, and other societies, which are of the utmost value to 
the progress of the nation, and which are produced at great cost and not 
for profit, could only be sent by post at a cost which is usually six 
or eight times as great as that of a newspaper, which is published in order 
to make a profit for an individual. However, the Postmaster-General 
could not see his way to grant the desired relief; but his reply was very 
sympathetic, and he showed himself to be distinctly in favour of some 
aid being given by Government to help scientific societies to carry on 
their valuable work. The British Science Guild did not, however, consider 
that this reply finally disposed of the postal question, and there was an 
intention to raise the subject at some future date, when circumstances are 
more favourable. 
Dr. Alexander Scott (Chemical Society), who submitted a detailed table 
of the expenditure of his society on publications from 1900 to 1908 inclusive, 
drew attention to the continually increasing cost of this branch of their 
work. A considerable sum in the balance-sheet was incurred through 
their custom of handing over to some of their younger fellows literature on 
chemical subjects, the matter of which was abstracted for publication and 
paid for at a low rate. 
The Chairman, Dr. A. C. Haddon (Royal Anthropological Institute), who 
spoke on certain aspects of the subject as it affected his society, was 
followed by 
Mr. A. L. Lewis, who added that the Royal Anthropological Institute 
publishes a very large and handsome Journal in half-yearly parts, at 15s. 
each, free to the fellows, whose subscription is two guineas per annum. It 
also publishes Man at one shilling monthly, but it is not able to supply this 
free to the fellows, for want of funds. The postage on these publica- 
tions is, of course, a large item. The Institute occasionally receives reports 
and papers for publication in its Journal from the Foreign and Colonial 
Offices, and is very glad to do so, because they are often extremely valuable ; 
but it would also be glad to receive—what at present it does not—a grant to 
pay for the printing of them. The financial position of the Institute is, 
however, better now than it was a few years ago. 
Mr. E. B. Knobel (Royal Astronomical Society) gave details of his 
£2 
