589 
SUNDERLAND CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
At a meeting of Chemists and Druggists, held on Wednesday, March 17th, at the 
Crown and Sceptre Hotel, Harrison Thompson, Esq., in the chair, it was resolved :— 
“ That, in consequence of the change made in our business by the passing of the 
new Pharmacy Act, our increased duties and responsibilities, it is desirable to establish 
a local Society, to be called the Sunderland Chemists’ Association, to consist of all the 
Chemists and Druggists of the town and neighbourhood, and to hold periodical meet¬ 
ings for the purpose of taking into consideration the means of raising the standard of 
education and scientific knowledge to the point required by our present improved posi¬ 
tion, and discussing such business matters as may from time to time arise.” 
A Committee, consisting of Mr. II. Thompson (Chairman), Mr. D. B. Sharpe, Mr. R. 
Robinson, and Mr. J. J. Nicholson (Hon. Sec.), was appointed to take immediate steps 
for carrying the resolutions into effect with as little delay as possible. 
WEDNESBURY CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
An adjourned meeting of the chemists and druggists of the borough of Wednesbury 
was held on Thursday evening, at the Turk’s Head Hotel, to take into further considera¬ 
tion the desirability of establishing an association of the chemists of the borough “ for 
the better regulation of the trade, to reduce the hours of labour, and to establish a 
library and classes for the members, apprentices, and assistants.” Present, Messrs. Briggs, 
Horton, Nicklin, Harvey, Swinnerton, Gittoes, Butler, Ryley, Tomlinson. Letters of 
apology from several others for inability to be present were also read. Mr. Briggs, of 
Tipton, occupied the chair, and Mr. Hollier, of Dudley, the local Secretary of the Phar¬ 
maceutical Society for the district, attended by invitation. The Chairman remarked 
that this was the third meeting which had been held for the purpose of considering the 
objects stated in the circular, the others being somewhat of a preliminary character; as 
this was intended for business, he was sorry there were not more present. They had the 
pleasure that evening of seeing Mr. Hollier, the Local Secretary of the Pharmaceutical 
Society there, and he would, doubtless, be able to assist by his advice and suggestions in 
the promotion of their undertaking, and say, as to whether the Society itself could in 
any way help them. Mr. Harvey, the honorary secretary, pro tem., stated that with 
Mr. Horton they had called upon nearly every chemist in the borough, and they were 
almost unanimous in favour of the formation of such an association. Unfortunately they 
had as yet not been able to get any large number present at their meetings, so that con¬ 
sequently they had not been able to proceed further than to meet in a friendly, social 
manner, and discuss as to the most advisable plan of proceeding for this purpose. They 
had invited two or three gentlemen to attend their meeting that evening, one of whom 
he was glad to see present. Mr. Hollier, having been then called upon, congratulated 
the chemists of the borough upon the attempt to form such an association. If it did 
nothing more, it would have had the effect of having brought them socially together, 
and of thus having made them know each other better, and so doing away with many 
of the petty rivalries and little jealousies which only too often arise from misunderstand¬ 
ings and misconceptions. By the passing of the recent Pharmacy Act a new era was 
about to begin as regarded their trade, and although they would have to wait for the 
results to be apparent, it was a step in the right direction to see the older members try¬ 
ing to adapt themselves to these altered circumstances, and to lend a helping hand to 
the juniors, who must prepare themselves by study for the passing of the examinations, 
which were now required before they would be permitted to begin business. As to their 
Association, it appeared there were two or three courses open for them, either to confine 
its operations to Wednesbury proper, to extend them to the whole of their borough, 
comprising West Bromwich, Darlaston, Tipton, and the populous districts of Great 
Bridge, Princes End, etc., or, having initiated the movement, to try that they should 
embrace the South Staffordshire district. Such an association would be extremely 
valuable for defensive as well as educational purposes, and as union is strength, so would 
it be also advantageous. Mr. Hollier suggested that they should proceed either by ob¬ 
taining the signatures of all or as many of the chemists as possible in the borough in 
