REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1930-31. xl 
The rating of the property is still in dispute, the rating authority holding that 
unless ‘ complete severance ’ is effected between the public and residential portions 
of the house, the whole must be rateable. Further legal opinion is being obtained ; 
but it is pertinent to observe that none of the Committee’s advisers has as yet adduced 
an approximately parallel case which would carry conviction to both parties. 
The income from dividends upon the endowment fund, rents, sales and donations 
during the calendar year 1930 amounted to £1,150, and the expenditure on running 
costs during the same year was £1,210. ‘Capital’ expenditure by the Association 
since the acquisition of the property amounts to £2,500, with certain further commit- 
ments in view and exclusive of the second mortgage of £700 granted to the outgoing 
tenant. The estimates given in last year’s report of the Committee were therefore 
not far from the results of a complete year’s experience ; but the Committee’s hope 
then expressed that additional financial support would be forthcoming in connection 
with the Centenary Fund has not yet been realised. 
Finally, the Committee would wish to share the gratification which the Council 
has already expressed for Mr. Buckston Browne’s munificent gift to the Royal College 
of Surgeons to enable the establishment of a research farm on land adjoining the 
Down House property. 
With reference to the above report, the Council have deposited the 
originals of the Miiller letters in the British Museum on permanent loan. 
Proposed Visits to Chicago and New Zealand. 
VIII. Chicago.—The Council have received from Dr. Henry Crew, on 
behalf of the Administration of the Chicago World’s Fair, 1933, in 
co-operation with the American Association for the Advancement of 
Science, a generous invitation to the Association to form a party of some 
twenty leading British representatives of science to visit Chicago during 
the period of the fair, and to take part in scientific proceedings. A subsidy 
is offered in connection with ocean travel. The Council understand that 
a formal invitation will be presented to the General Committee, and they 
recommend that it be accepted. The principle of organising such a party 
additionally to the ordinary annual meeting of the Association would be 
new, but there is no statutory bar to it, and the Council consider that it 
would be a proper and desirable extension of the Association’s activities. 
IX. New Zealand.—H.k. the Governor-General of New Zealand, Lord 
Bledisloe, indicated that he hoped for the visit of a representative party 
from the Association during his period of office (which terminates in 1934), 
and that such a party would be assured of a warm welcome. The Council 
appointed a committee to consider the proposal, and in its recommendation 
authorised Sir Thomas Holland and the General Officers to enter into 
~ communication upon the proposal with the Governor-General, the Prime 
Minister, and the High Commissioner. From the last of these it was 
understood that, in view of the present financial situation in New Zealand, 
no good purpose would be served by pursuing the proposal further at 
present. 
Finance. 
X. General Treasurer's Account.—The Council has received reports 
from the General Treasurer throughout the year. His accounts have 
been audited and are presented to the General Committee. His prefatory 
statement deals with the position of the Centenary Fund. Every contribu- 
tion and promise have been acknowledged on the Council’s behalf, and a 
list will be issued at the Centenary Meeting. 
