230  Report  to  the  Half-yearly  General  Meeting, 
Charter  of  1840  precluded  the  adoption  of  any  other  procediu'e 
than  that  now  in  force),  a special  Committee  was  appointed  on 
October  6 last,  with  instructions  to  take  the  necessarj-  steps 
to  obtain  such  an  alteration  in  the  Charter  as  would  enable  the 
Society  to  re-arrange  its  system  of  appointing  the  Council,  with 
a view  to  its  being  placed  on  a more  representative  basis. 
Counsel  having  advised  that  this  could  be  best  effected  by  a 
Supplemental  Charter,  a Petition  is  being  drawn  up  to  include 
the  following  points  : (1)  That  the  Members  in  any  district  or 
group  of  counties  should  have  the  absolute  power  of  electing 
their  own  representatives  on  the  Council  ; (2)  that  there  should 
be  a power  of  co-optation  to  the  Council  to  the  extent  of,  say, 
ten  Members,  so  as  to  ensure  representation  of  any  particular 
branch  or  industry,  scientific  men  or  specialists  ; and  (3)  that 
not  less  than  one  General  Meeting  of  Members  be  held  in  the 
year,  the  date  and  place  to  be  fixed  by  the  Council.  The  steps 
necessary  for  obtaining  the  Supplemental  Charter  are  being 
jmshed  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  it  will  be  for  the 
Council  elected  under  this  Charter  to  deliberate  and  decide  as 
to  the  future  of  the  Society’s  Shows  and  as  to  the  character  and 
scope  of  the  Society’s  other  operations.  Meanwhile,  the  present 
Council  have  used  and  are  using  their  utmost  endeavours  to 
carry  out  the  Society’s  work  with  due  economy,  having  regard 
to  the  financial  position  and  without  prejudice  to  the  decisions 
which  the  Council  elected  under  the  new  Charter  will  be  called 
upon  to  make. 
8.  The  Society’s  Sixty-fifth  Annual  Show  was  held  at  Park 
Royal  from  June  21  to  2.5  last.  With  but  few  exceptions  in 
particular  classes,  a complete  representation  of  British  Agri- 
culture and  Live  Stock  was  secured,  and  the  Show  was  visited 
by  a large  number  of  the  Governors  and  Members  with  their 
friends.  In  this  connection  the  Council  desire  cordially  to 
acknowledge  the  action  of  the  Railway  Companies  in  granting 
return  tickets  at  the  price  of  a single  fare  and  a quarter  to 
Members  travelling  to  the  Show  from  distances  of  over  thirty 
miles.  This  valuable  concession  was  greatly  appreciated,  and 
undoubtedly  contributed  to  the  large  attendance  of  Members. 
For  the  financial  success  of  its  Shows  the  Society  has  had  of 
course  always  to  depend  upon  the  attendance  of  the  general 
public.  In  1903,  the  total  number  of  paying  visitors  was  only 
65,013,  and  the  result  was  a financial  loss  of  9,681/.  The 
circumstances  of  that  year  were,  however,  so  exceptional  that 
it  was  determined  to  hold  another  Show  at  Park  Royal,  and 
to  put  forth  every  effort  to  attract  the  attendance  of  visitors 
from  the  dense  populations  in  and  around  the  Metropolis.  The 
result  was,  however,  even  more  disapi)ointing  than  the  previous 
year.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  weather,  both  before 
