29 
MINU’lES OE ANNUAL CENEKAL AlF.ETINGj IST APRIL 1949 
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 1st April 1949 
The Annual General Meeting was lield in the Shell Gallery at the 
British Museum (Nat. Hist.), Cromwell Road, London, on 1st April 
1949, at 11 a.m. 
Mr A. H. G. Alston was in the Chair and 36 members were present. 
Regret was expressed at the unavoidable absence of Mr Gilmour, who 
was indisposed. 
The Hon. Gen. Secretary read the Minutes of the last Annual General 
Meeting, which were approved and signed. 
The HON. GEN. SECRETARY’S REPORT had been circulated. 
In reply to Dr Butcher, the Editor said that the Exchange Section 
Report would continue to be published separately. 
Miss Longfield proposed, and Mrs H. Boyd Watt seconded, that the 
Hon. Gen. Secretary’s Report be adopted. Carried. 
The HON. TREASURER’S REPORT had been circulated. 
Mr Brenan suggested that a Sub-Committee be appointed to consider 
advertisements in Watsonia, and advertising Watsonia generally. The 
Hon. Gen. Secretary replied that a leaflet was in preparation for wide 
circulation, advertising Watsonia, and that advertisements would be 
put in both Watsonia and the Year Book. 
Mr Milne-Redhead suggested advertisements of botanical accommoda- 
tion and was requested to send in names to the Editor. 
Dr Butcher disapproved of fees being charged members for attending 
meetings which they had a right to attend; he objected also to a profit 
being made on Excursions and on the Tea Party, adding that unneces- 
sarj^ charges keep away young, energetic members. He objected to the 
1/- feet for the visit to the British Museum (Nat. Hi.st.) Dept, of Botany. 
Mr Graham also objected to the 1/- fee. The Hon. Treasurer replied 
that fees were charged because expenses were incurred in arranging 
all meetings. A loss was made on the Conference and a profit on the 
Tea Party. The Chairman said that fees were for the purpose of ensur- 
ing that members attending Excursions, paid for them themselves, and 
also for keeping down the Society’s general expenses. Those who did 
not attend, did not contribute. The Hon. Gen. Secretarj^ said that in 
1948 there had been fewer cancellations than ever before ; in 1947 there 
had been 54. In 1947 it was found that a third of the total members 
attended Field Meetings. For this reason, at the Marlborough meeting 
members objected that all members were paying for that meeting and 
that therefore there should be fees. Week-end reduced fees were being 
introduced. Leaders were only paid postage and teleiihone expenses. 
Mr Wilmott confirmed that on one occasion a good tea was given on an 
excursion, and many people for whom it had been arranged did not turn 
up. Much work was done by Officers, and expenses were by no means 
