218 REPORT — 1875. 



Committee in the matter. He therefore wished to urge legislation in foreign 

 countiies with a view of preventing the diminution of insectivorous birds, especially 

 which wintered in the south, and maintaining strongly the immense advantage of 

 protecting birds in the breeding-season as a means of increcasing vastly the value of 

 agricultural crops, and affirmed that the two years' experience of good crops in 

 England since the passing of the Act of 1872 was a proof of the correctness of his 

 statement. With a view of putting this thoroughly to the test, he challenged all 

 who were willing to join issue with him in the matter, both farmers, gardeners, 

 landholders, sportsmen, and naturalists, to produce facts and be ready to answer 

 his statement before the British Association next year. He stated he had had the 

 thanks, through their ambassador Count Miinster, of the Imperial German Govern- 

 ment for liis information with reference to legislation in Europe on the matter, and 

 was therefore anxious that the benefits of following the example of England might 

 be apparent. The author reviewed the European species with reference to their 

 economic value, and had in his hand recorded facts for the good of each bird. 



On the Acclimatization of the Silkivorm. By Mrs. Bladen Neill. 



Bidldiiif) Societies and the Act of 1874. By Thomas Frakcis Peacock. 



Building Societies are of three classes. Permanent, Terminating, and " Bowkett." 

 Hitherto they have been governed by an Act passed in 1836 (6 and 7 Wm. IV. 

 c. 32) ; but the recent Act (37 and 38 Vic. c. 42) removes several practical difficulties 

 in their working. These are (1 ) : — In the mode of raising capital, the new Act giving 

 a limited power to borrow money; (2) in the liability of Members, the new Act 

 expressly limiting it to the moneys paid or to the amoimt secured by mortgage ; (3) 

 in joint Membership, the new Act expre.=!sly authorizing it ; (4) in payments to repre- 

 sentatives of deceased Members, which may now be made up to £'50 without ad- 

 n.inistration ; (5) in the security to be given by Ofiicers, which is now required from 

 every officer having receipt or charge of money of the Society ; ( 6 ) in the investment 

 of surplus funds, which is now permitted on all tlie securities usually open to 

 Tniatees ; (7) in Societies uniling or transferring their engagements, which is now 

 authorized and regulated ; (8) in winding up,which is now made easy and inexpensive ; 

 ('J) in the settlement of disputes, which may now be referred either to arbitrators, 

 to the County Court, or to the Kegistrar, by either of whom a case may be stated 

 for the supreme court or discovery granted; and (10) in uncertainty of legislation, 

 which is now removed by the Statute being a consolidation with amendments of the 

 law on the question. The advantages offered by the Act are so important that 

 Building Societies of all classes should avail themselves t)f them by becoming in- 

 corporated. 



On the Industrial Position of Women as affected by their exclusion 

 from the Suffrage. By A. M. Priestman. 



The industrial resources of a people are best developed when every one exercises 

 his faculties fully. 



In England the tendency is towards this ideal condition : more men of the 

 upper ranks are engaged in trade and commerce now than formerly, and fewer men 

 in the lower ranks are injuriouslj^ overworked. This tendency, however, though 

 strongly marked amongst men, is not noticeable amongst women. The duties of 

 mere housekeeping are lighter than when brewing, spinning, &c. were done at 

 home ; whilst those women who have to work for their bread are increasingly 

 unable to gain employment, and those who have work are beset year by year with 

 new drags and difficulties. In some callings higher education is required than used 

 to be the case, and the educational standard is lower for girls than for boys, so they 

 cannot compete fairly. Trade-imions forbid their members to take girls as appren- 

 tices, so women cannot become skilled workers. The laws of the coimtry hamper 

 and harass women while they leave men free, so that the industrial value of 

 women's work has sunk so low that in this city of Bristol women may be found 

 making shirts for 2\d. each. 



The improvement in the industrial value of men's work has always grown out of 



