3886 REPORT—1904. 
Annual Meeting of the Delegates. He could quite understand that 
there might be numerous questions cropping up in the course of the year 
which it would be very desirable to discuss in Conference. He felt cer- 
tain that many of the Societies would see that, in addition to the work 
which they were now doing, it was necessary in the interests of science to 
influence the man who has to vote, not only in the County Councils, but 
in the House of Commons. 
Mr. P. Ewing (Glasgow) spoke in support of the suggestions made by 
the Chairman. 
The Rev. G. B. Stallworthy (Haslemere) said he had very strong faith 
in the value of the local Societies, and also in the connection between the 
local Societies and the British Association. He felt very grateful for the 
pressure put upon the Societies by headquarters to make them do some- 
thing. This year they had succeeded at Haslemere in publishing two 
papers, but they were rather dry: one was a catalogue of fungi. Only 
about five per cent. of the members purchase such things. For all that, 
it had had a very healthy influence upon a small circle of the members. 
A practical suggestion the speaker was about to make was this, that 
possibly a Central Committee might consider whether it were possible to 
appoint a dozen responsible gentlemen who would visit these local 
Societies. A few of the Delegates attend the British Association, and 
they are able to interest just a few round about them; but the interest 
would be very greatly increased and deepened if a gentleman representing 
the British Association would come to the local Society with a message 
from headquarters. That message would reach the great majority of 
those who attend meetings. He did not regard it as a very practical test 
as to whether they had a museum or not. Some Societies do not own 
a museum, because there is already a museum existing in their locality. 
He thought that if admission to the Association depended upon the 
recommendation of one of these officials, who would come down, say, once 
annually or two years in succession, and report upon the nature of the 
Society, the kind of work done, and the healthiness of it, such a report by 
a responsible inspector appointed by the Council might be an important 
factor in determining the question of admission of the Society. 
Dr. G. Abbott (Tunbridge Wells) wished to support the suggestion 
just put forward. To his mind the solution of many of the difficulties 
that were felt would depend on the formation of unions of the Societies 
in different districts of the country. If there were a union of the Societies 
in four or five counties, very many more of those Societies would send 
Delegates to these meetings. One of the chief advantages of the union 
with which he was connected, the South-Eastern Union, was that it had 
brought the Societies together. They had got to know men who were 
giving good lectures, and who were prepared to repeat them. In that 
way many friendships had been formed and many Societies had been 
strengthened. 
The Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing called attention to one departure from 
precedent which he thought was of the very highest value. Last year the ~ 
Delegates were honoured by the attendance at this Conference of the 
President of the Association. This year again they had the presence of 
the outgoing President. What he wished to insist upon was this, that 
they should if possible persuade all Presidents and outgoing Presidents 
to do as Sir Norman Lockyer had done. He hoped that next year 
Mr. Balfour would take care to honour the Congress with his company. 
