141 YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION ANNUAL REPORT. 5 



of the 40 Societies being now 2,517, or an increase of 408. This, 

 with the number of direct members added, makes the total numerical 

 strength of the Union amount to about 2,925. 



The Membership now stands at 410, an increase of 35 on the 

 previous year. During the year 60 new members have been elected, 

 and in this connection the Union has been much indebted to several 

 of its Hon. Local Treasurers and to other members for the successful 

 exercise of their influence with such of their friends as take interest 

 in natural history, or whose sympathies incline them to support the 

 work which the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union carries on. It will not 

 be invidious to mention here that the Union is especially indebted 

 to its old friend Mr. S. Chadwick, of Malton, who has been directly 

 instrumental in securing nearly half of the total number of new 

 members elected during the year. 



. The Financial Position of the Union has materially improved 

 during the year, owing to the unremitting and vigorous attention 

 which your Hon. Treasurer and the various Hon. Local Treasurers 

 have given to the collection of the very large amount of outstanding 

 arrears which was reported last year as resulting from the total 

 disablement of your Honorary Secretaries during the year 1888. 

 The persistent attention given to this matter has had the result that 

 not only have arrears been collected to the amount shown in the 

 balance-sheet, but the current year's subscriptions have been collected 

 to an amount which has never been shown for a current year in any 

 previous balance-sheet. Much credit is due to the Hon. Local 

 Treasurers for the very considerable and valuable service which is 

 thus rendered by them to the Union. In several of the collecting 

 districts there are at present no arrears whatever outstanding, and it 

 is trusted that during the coming year this state of things may have 

 become the case in all the districts. 



Much, however, depends upon the members themselves, who 

 ran, by prompt payment of their contributions, do very much to 

 lighten the heavy burden which is always cast upon an hon. treasurer, 

 and in connection with this subject it is to be noted with satisfaction 

 that a considerable number of members have signed the form which 

 authorizes the payment of their subscriptions to the Union's bankers 

 bv their own bankers, a course which prevents suljscriptions falling 

 into arrear, and which saves much trouble, not only to the honorary 

 officers of the Union, but to the members themselves. 



It may be here noted that a little misunderstanding has existed 

 in the case of a few members (fortunately, not many) who have not 

 taken into consideration the absolute necessity of a definite and 

 written resignation Ijeing tendered by every member wishing to dis- 



M.-iy 1890. 



