28 
The Queensland Naturalist August 1946 
Another example of Governmental indifference 
occurred when Mr. Bailey wished to publish an index to 
the Queensland Flora. The Government refused to bear 
the cost, estimated at £40. A foreign visitor to Brisbane 
offered to provide the sum, and the Government allowed it 
to be accepted ! Politicians of that day did not appreciate 
the value of science. 
F. M. Bailey had a great love for high-class literature 
and could quote from memory lengthy passages from his 
favourite authors. Lovable and kindly to the utmost, he 
left behind him on his death an 2.5th June, 1915, not only 
a mass of scientific work, but the affectionate remembrance 
of those who knew him. 
At the beginning of 1892 a Society was formed under 
the name of the Natural History Society of Queensland. 
Mr. Henry Tryon was first President, and Mr. F. 
Whitteron was first Hon. Secretary. The Society pub- 
lished one volume of records during the years 1892, 1893 
and 1894. 
The movement went to sleep for a few years and was 
revived by Prof. S. B. J. Skertchly, Henry Tryon and 
James Johnston. On 10th March, 1906, eleven enthusiasts 
met with this object. A little later, on the 6th of the 
following month, the Field Naturalists’ Club was inaug- 
urated. The title was changed, in 1922, to its persent one 
— The Queensland Naturalists’ Club. 
The number of foundation members was fifty. Prof. 
S. B. .J. Skertchly rvas elected first President and the other 
members of the Committee were Henry Tryon, Vice-Presi- 
dent, Miss Fcwings, A. Exley, L.‘ C. Green and E. 
Hur worth. The first Hon. Secretary was James Johnston. 
Later in t he same year C. W. Holland was appointed 
Assistant Hon. Secretary, and when in the following year 
Mr. Johnston relinquished the post, his place was taken 
by the former. 
In his inaugural address, Prof. Skertchly stressed the 
point that the Club was not a Society, but that he hoped 
it would be the means of enriching the societies already 
in existence. Those whose membership goes back to the 
early days know that the genial President continually 
urged the cultivation of what he called “ Clubability.” He 
did nor like the idea of meeting in a room furnished with 
rows of benches, where “one could no more be pleasantly 
chatty among its wooden parallels than one could tread a 
measure among Church pews.” 
