52 Corresfio?ide?ice, Notes, etc.


is the method of election which is employed by the Zoological and other

well known Societies.


With regard to the voting paper, it is usual to distinguish between

the Council’s nominees and all others. I am certain that nothing personal

was meant by it.


Anyhow should you still desire your letter to be published, and will

let me know, I will forward it to the Editor. T. H. Newman.


To the Hon. Business Secretary.


Sir,—I am obliged by your courteous letter to hand. It is quite true,

as you remark, that provision is made by the Society’s revised rules for the

introduction of ‘ new blood ’ on the Council each year, and that nominations

may be made by the members. This is not however the point of contention

and I am afraid I am not quite understood.


What I wish to emphasize is,—the original rules of the Society so far

as concerns the election of the Council, cannot legally (if I may use the

term) be altered by the Council without a vote in favour of such alteration

being given by the members of the Society.


In regard to the Zoological Society’s adoption of similar methods,

I am afraid this argument is rather against our CounciJ, It is quite true

what you say, but the difference is this, that the rules governing the

election of its officers were ratified by the Society as a body, and this of course

covers my whole argument. I think therefore the fairest way of dealing

with my last letter will be to send it to the Editor for publication, so that

members, if they wish it, may have an opportunity of expressing an

opinion on the matter, and so long as there is general satisfaction in the

camp, I am well satisfied ; but I am inclined to the belief that there are

many members who, whilst disagreeing with the Council’s action, lack the

courage to make even a mild protest.


Of course I must be absolved from any desire to be vexatious, my

interest in the Avicultural Society is too healthy for anything of this nature.


Archibald Simpson.


[So far as we are aware the original Rules of the Avicultural Society

were ratified by the general body of the Society as it existed at the time

they were drafted, and those rules have clearly given the Council power

“ to alter and add to the Rules from time to time in any manner they may

think fit." It would seem therefore that if any mistake has been made

(which we do not admit) it was made by the original framers of the Rules.

However the Council do not pretend to be infallible, and, we are quite sure,

will welcome the opinion of our members. We would however ask those

who have anything to say on the subject to do so as soon as possible, as

the pages of the Magazine are intended for matters strictly connected with

birds, and this controversy can do little good to the journal if long

continued.



