CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES 475 
life, or instructive geological sections. Acting upon resolutions from the 
Conference of Delegates and several of the Sections, which dealt with the 
need for more adequate protection of sites of scientific and historical 
interest, the Council had in 1923 summoned a Conference at which H.M. 
Office of Works and many learned societies and institutions were repre- 
sented. In the report of the Council for 1923-24 it is remarked that ‘ the 
discussion in general revealed cordial agreement with the suggestion con- 
tained in the letter summoning the Conference that the sole effective remedy 
appears to be that learned societies not immediately concerned in a particular 
problem of conservation should take concerted steps to promote legislation 
wider in scope and more strictly worded than the Ancient Monuments 
Act now in force for the protection of such sites.’ In the twelve years that 
have elapsed there has undoubtedly been real progress, although much 
remains to be done. Sites and objects belonging to Prof. Myres’ first 
category are protected under the Ancient Monuments Act and watched 
over by H.M. Office of Works. Those of the third category, and in part 
of the second, are accumulating in public hands through the admirable 
activities of the National Trust, whose fortieth anniversary was celebrated 
this year ; and public attention has been drawn to other districts worthy of 
preservation by the Report of the Committee on National Parks, and the 
evidence presented at its sittings, and by the Councils for the Preservation 
of Rural England, Wales and Scotland. But what of the fourth category ? 
It is a pleasure to take note of one of the most enlightened enactments 
placed upon the Statute Book for a long time, in the form of the Town and 
Country Planning Act of 1932, wherein it is laid down that a local authority 
or joint committee must obtain the approval of the Ministry of Health 
before it can implement any resolution relating to a scheme of planning. 
Among the objects of such a scheme, as cited in Section 1 of the Act, are 
“ preserving existing buildings or other objects of architectural, historic and 
artistic interest, and places of natural interest or beauty, and generally of 
protecting existing amenities whether in urban or rural portions of the area.’ 
Formerly the success of efforts directed to the preservation of sites and 
objects of scientific interest was due to the enthusiasm of advocates, and the 
broadmindedness and public spirit of landowners and benefactors. While 
this good work will, it is hoped, still continue, much more power is now in 
the hands of the people. But, as ever, knowledge is a prerequisite of useful 
action. And the question before us is—how can the British Association, 
and in particular the Corresponding Societies, inform the people and assist 
them to safeguard their natural heritage ? 
If we are to judge from the frequency of references to this and to cognate 
subjects in the columns of the daily press, there can be no doubt as to the 
public awareness of the desirability and necessity for preserving sites and 
objects of scientific interest and natural beauty. The Ministry of Health 
has given opportunity to the Association to advise as to when action ought 
to be taken—that is, to conserve, concentrate and direct energy which might 
otherwise be dissipated in isolated action or unprofitable controversy. ‘T'he 
areas in which planning schemes are proposed are notified to the British 
Association, a body admittedly well fitted to advise the Ministry, by its aims 
and constitution, by its liaison with the Corresponding Societies, and by the 
call it can make upon scientific experts within and without its ranks. 
Obviously, before the Association can act effectively, the requisite informa- 
tion regarding the existence of objects and sites worthy of preservation must 
be available. At the present time only a small amount of information has 
been collected and collated, but it is necessary to take account of all sites 
and objects throughout the kingdom. So far as botany and zoology are 
