464 
YORK CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
Pharmacy and Chemists and Druggists Bill, after due and careful consideration neither 
of them were approved, but certain clauses and amendments were suggested and recom¬ 
mended for adoption to the rival Societies, whereby joint action might be secured, and 
an Act of Incorporation obtained from Parliament for the government of the trade, with 
the approbation and concurrence of all who are interested in it. 
“ A full account of this meeting and the resolutions adopted thereat was sent to the 
‘ Pharmaceutical Journal ’ and the ‘ Chemist and Druggist ’ for publication, such publi¬ 
cation having apparently had considerable influence on the opinions of the trade in all 
parts of the country; and the executive have much pleasure in reporting that the Editor 
of the ‘ Chemist and Druggist,’ on several occasions, has commended the action of the 
York Chemists, and recommended other towns to follow so worthy an example. 
“A copy of the Report and Resolutions was sent by your Honorary Secretary to Mr. 
Westhead and Colonel Smyth, our late representatives in Parliament, together with a 
letter strongly urging them to support our views in the event of either Bill being pressed 
through Parliament during the Session; replies were sent by both gentlemen, stating it 
would give them pleasure to attend to the interests of our important trade, should their 
services be required. 
. “ Your executive were not content with these precautions, but, in order the more 
directly to gain for their opinions the consideration of the Government, it was thought 
advisable also to write to the Home Secretary, Sir George Grey, on the subject; accord¬ 
ingly the Report and Resolutions were sent, together with a letter containing additional 
reasons for the adoption of our views (which letter was also published in the ‘ Chemist 
and Druggist ’), and your executive have reason to believe that these communications 
had considerable influence ultimately on the decision arrived at by the Special Committee. 
“ In order to use every constitutional means for the furtherance of our objects, a peti¬ 
tion to Parliament was subsequently presented from this city by Colonel Smyth, signed 
by ninety-two chemists and chemists’ assistants, praying that in any enactment affect¬ 
ing so respectable a body that equal privileges be given, and that the right of self-govern¬ 
ment should jbe maintained, and that no governing body or society could have our con¬ 
fidence who ignored these principles. 
“ Your executive gave every attention during the continuance of the Session to all 
measures affecting the interests of chemists and druggists, and, as is well known, all 
legislative action by the two Societies proved abortive. In the month of March, Sir 
Fitzroy Kelly introduced the Pharmacy, and Sir John Shelley the Chemists and Druggists 
Bill, which, after the second reading, w r ere referred to a Select Committee. This Com¬ 
mittee commenced its labours on the 5th May, taking evidence in support of the 
Pharmacy Bill until the 19th June, when it presented a Report to the House, recom¬ 
mending Government to introduce a Bill in the new Parliament founded on certain re¬ 
solutions and recommendations that were almost identical with our own. 
“After the experience of last Session, your executive have little hope of a successful 
measure being passed until the two Societies unite and agree to a scheme of Government 
satisfactory to the majority of the trade, and which, at the same time, will be beneficial 
to the interests of the public. 
“ In conclusion, it may be as well to notice that the dinner held on the 8th March 
last, and which was well attended, was so successful, that the executive most cordially 
recommend the members to have an annual festivity, in order to cement and strengthen 
the good feeling that meetings of that nature have a tendency to promote. 
“ It is recommended that the Committee and Auditors be electedat this Annual Meeting. 
“ Annexed is a statement of accounts for the past year, showing a balance in hand of 
£4. 3s. 6d., which it is hoped will prove satisfactory:— 
“ Receipts. £ s. 
“ To Subscriptions, 1865 . 15 11 
“ Expenditure. 
“ Printing, Stationery, Postages, Meetings, Petition, Annual Dinner, etc. 11 7 
“Balance in hand. . . ... .. ..43 
15 11 0 
d. 
0 
6 
G 
“ York , February 2, 1866. 
“ George Dennis, Chairman. 
“Thomas Cooper, Treasurer. 
“ John Brown, Secretary.” 
