Notes on the Society's Work xn 1897-1918. lxxxi. 



charge as they are very closely connected with, and indeed covered by, 

 the objects of the Society as laid down by its Ordinance should be of in- 

 terest to such of its members as are not members solely on account of 

 their desire for ephemeral literature. By our Ordinance we are 

 charged with " the improvement and encouragement of the agriculture of 

 " the Colony, and of every branch of industry, whereby the resources of 

 " the Colony are likely to be developed and increased," and hence when 

 in this address I have deviated from the prime object of this Society — 

 agriculture — I submit I have still kept within the wide limits of "every 

 kind of industry." 



It is the duty of the Society as a whole and, I consider, also that of 

 every one of its members to keep in mind the wide objects which justify 

 its existence ; and, for the latter — whether engaged in agriculture, in the 

 forestal industries, in the exploitation of the colony's mineral wealth, 

 of its means of communication, the utilisation of its vast water- 

 power resources, or in commerce — to approach this Society with 

 regard to the development of the Colony's assets in such a manner 

 as to ensure its being, as the Society's founders intended it to be, 

 the foremost organisation of the colony working steadfastly with the 

 Government towards not only its economic development of this 

 Magnificent Province, but also the social and general welfare of its 

 inhabitants. 



Is the Society through the co-operation of its members at present 

 occupying the proud position it ought to do in this respect ? I fear the 

 answer must be that it is not and that it has not at all satisfactorily 

 responded to the strenuous and persistent efforts its out-going President, 

 Dr. Nunan, has devoted in the hope of inducing the Society to attain 

 the foremost position it should occupy in the practical affairs of British 

 Guiana. 



