xxvi REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1931-32 



They recommend that the present life composition of £15 be reduced to 

 £10 los. This recommendation is based upon the fact that, before 1919, 

 when the life composition was £10, 23 new life members were enrolled 

 annually on an average over 10 years ; after 191 9, when the life composition 

 was raised to £15, this average number fell to 8-3. 



A majority of the Committee recommend that the subscription of £1, 

 entitling to attendance at the Meeting only, be raised to £1 15. This 

 recommendation is made with a view to balancing any reduction of receipts 

 which might result from giving effect to other recommendations of the 

 Committee. The class of members paying the £1 subscription is the 

 largest ; on average figures the proposed increase would yield an addition of 

 £70-80 annually, and it is believed that it would not cause any diminution in 

 the number of members. 



The Committee consider that the Annual Report is too highly priced, and 

 recommend that the prices should be as follows : 



Published price, 155. instead of £1 55. 



Library subscription, los., if paid regularly, instead of 12s. 6d. now 

 charged to approved libraries. 



They further recommend that back numbers of the Report should be 

 offered at 10s., and back numbers of the Advancement of Science at 35. bd., 

 and that this offer should be made known among members and others 

 whose names are on the books of the Association. 



Finally, they recommend that it should be similarly made known that on 

 regular payment of los. on a banker's order, the Report will be supplied 

 (as well as papers relating to forthcoming meetings). 



The Committee make these recommendations concerning the Report 

 with a view to ensuring its wider distribution, and giving effect to previous 

 recommendations of the Publications Committee. Further, they think that 

 the principle of the banker's order, put forward in the final recommendation, 

 should assist in mitigating ' the insecurity inherent in the Association's 

 finances,' which, as shown in a memorandum laid before them, is ' connected 

 primarily ' with the fluctuating number of subscriptions for annual 

 membership. 



Dates of Financial Year. 



XXI. — The Council have received from the Hon. Auditors a reasoned 

 proposal that the financial year of the Association should run from April i 

 to March 31, instead of from July i to June 30, and they recommend this 

 change to the General Committee, together with a consequent change 

 in the Statutes. 



