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CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES. 493 
Parliament, to the effect that national interests demand the defacement of the site, 
or the removal of the monument in question. 
The present risk to all such monuments and sites is that damage once done is in 
the nature of the case irreparable; that such damage is unavoidable from the first 
moment of interference ; and that unless there is secure provision for public notice, 
and previous discussion, the intervention of private persons, or semi-official agencies, 
is usually too late. Public opinion once firmly confronted with the facts, and given 
time to draw its own conclusions, is usually sound. And whether it be sound or not, 
there is a strong case for protecting it against prejudgment of the issue by private 
aggression, or (still more) by rash administrative action on the part of the public’s 
own servants. 
A vote of thanks to the President for his address was moved by Mr. 
P. M. C. Kermode (Isle of Man) and seconded by Mr. W. Dale (Hampshire 
Field Club). 
On the motion of the Chairman, a message of condolence was forwarded 
to the relatives of the late Sir William Herdman, C.B.E., D.Sc., F.R.S., 
whose sudden death had become known during the course of the meeting, 
which was then terminated. 
