682 NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY 
Besides these, many other individuals did invaluable work before 
and during the Meeting as officers or members of executive or of special 
sub-committees. 
The Federal Council held its first meeting at Melbourne in Novem- 
ber 1912, under the presidency of the Prime Minister, Mr. Fisher, with 
Mr. M. L. Shepherd as Secretary. A smaller Federal Executive 
(Professor Masson, Chairman) was then appointed, and the office of 
Organising Secretary was offered to and accepted by Mr. A. C. D. 
Rivett, D.Sc., of the University of Melbourne. Dr. Rivett’s work in 
England during 1913, and subsequently in Australia, is referred to 
elsewhere. For fifteen months he devoted himself entirely to the 
duties of his office, and it is recognised by all concerned that the success 
of the Meeting was very largely due to him. In June 1913 Mr. Joseph 
Cook succeeded Mr. Fisher as Prime Minister, and acted as President 
of the Federal Council until the close of the Meeting. 
From the end of 1912 till the Meeting in August 1914 a great deal 
of work devolved on the State Committees and on the Federal Council 
and its Executive, and many meetings were held. There was constant 
communication with the office of the Association in London and with 
the Governments of the Commonwealth and the States. Some of the 
chief matters dealt with are referred to below. 
Local Costs of the Meeting.—Besides its contribution of £15,000 
for overseas travelling, the Commonwealth Government defrayed all the 
Organising Secretary’s expenses and those connected with the work of 
the Federal Council. It also contributed largely to certain of the 
official entertainments during the Meeting. The State Governments, 
besides undertaking the whole cost of Members’ railway travelling in 
Australia, contributed each a large sum towards the general expenses 
of the local meeting. 
Hospitality.x—In each State a special Committee undertook to 
provide for the reception of each visiting Member as a guest either at a 
private house or at a club or hotel. Apart from the executive officers 
already named, the following may be specially mentioned in this 
connection :— 
Adelaide: Sir Samuel Way, Bart. 
Melbourne: Mr. John Grice, Mr. D. J. Mahony. 
Sydney: Lady McMillan, Mrs. Ashburton Thompson, 
Brisbane: Sir Pope Cooper, Mr. F. Philpott. 
Excursions.—These were planned and carried out by special local 
Committees, with valuable assistance from the railway authorities and 
from the Automobile Clubs. The following, with the Executive 
officers, were mainly responsible for the Excursion programmes :— 
Perth: Professor Woolnough, Mr. C. Andrews. 
Adelaide: Mr. H. Angas Parsons, M.P. 
Melbourne: Dr. J. W. Barrett, C.M.G., and Professor E. W. 
Skeats, D.Sc. 
Sydney: Mr. Justice Docker, Mr. F. C. Govers. 
Brisbane: Sir Arthur Cowley, Mr. T. C. Troedson. 
