800 
ANNUAL MEETING. 
trade, viz., whether anything was to be done with regard to the abolition of the Patent 
Medicine Licence, and the recommendation of the Council for the abolition of the 
Stamp Duty. 
Mr. Vizer : I have moved a resolution that Mr. Sugden Evans be requested to 
retire from the Society. 
The S ecretary : You cannot move that. 
Mr. Urwick: After the complaints which have been made against him, I think 
it would be much better. 
Mr. Vizer : I mean as a member of the Council, not of the Society. 
Mr. Carteig-he : The bye-laws will not allow him to withdraw his name as a can¬ 
didate. He cannot do anything until he is re-elected, and then he may resign if he 
think lit. 
Mr. Dickinson : Then we shall not be here. 
Mr. Uewick: We had better pass a resolution, asking him to retire if he is 
elected. 
The Chairman said he was placed in a very unpleasant position, but in his opinion 
this question could not be entered on at the present meeting, but would recommend 
to the attention of the members the bye-law which provided for the case of any member 
who was accused of committing any act subversive of the interests of the Society. 
Mr. Vizer said that bye-law did not touch the case of a member of the Council. 
The Secretary said he w r as anxious to obtain the names of twelve gentlemen who 
would act as scrutineers. 
Mr. Dickinson : Never mind the scrutineers; let us have this out first. A gen¬ 
tleman here has moved, and another has seconded it, to the effect that this meeting 
disapproves of Mr. Evans being a member of the Council, or President of the Society. 
Surely there is no harm in passing such a resolution as that. It does no harm and 
no good. It is only an expression, and will go for what it is worth. 
Mr. Collins : I disapproved of the whole matter as much as any one ; but I say 
you are proposing a resolution which it is not competent to the Chairman to receive. 
The Chairman : I could not put such a resolution as that. I could say a good 
deal on the subject if necessary, for I am as much opposed to co-operative societies as 
any one. 
Mr. Flux : I would venture to put to the gentlemen whether a certain respon¬ 
sibility in connection with an action for libel would not attach to the putting of this 
resolution, and whether it would not be better not to press it. ffhe proceedings of 
this meeting will be published, and this is a personal attack. 
Mr. Vizer : It is not a personal attack. 
Mr. Urwick : We want to know whom we shall elect to represent us. 
Mr. Watts said it had been stated a short time previously that if the President 
refused to answer the question, it w r as to be telegraphed all over the country, north, 
south, east, and west. Surely that was making it a personal matter. 
Mr. Morson asked what would be thought of the Society when these proceedings 
were published. lie had heard the observations which had been made with the 
deepest regret, and he was not at all sure that one gentleman had not subjected him¬ 
self to an action for libel. He was willing to believe that it had been done with good 
intent, but the Society could only be injured by this sort of proceedings. He did 
hope they would endeavour to maintain the dignity of the profession, and not turn 
that room into a bear garden. 
Mr. Vizer said he would withdraw his resolution, as he was quite satisfied with 
the expression of feeling which had been elicited; and he thought after what had 
passed, Mr. Sugden Evans, if he had any proper feeling, would not serve on any 
future Council. 
Mr. Russell said his question with regard to the Patent Medicine Licence and 
the Stamp Duty had not been answered. 
Mr. Sandford said no action was being taken, or in contemplation, on that subject. 
Mr. Russell said he was very glad to hear it, as it would materially afiect the in¬ 
terests of one-half the druggists in the country. 
The requisite number of scrutineei’s was then appointed, and the meeting was 
adjourned to Friday the 20th, at 12 o’clock, after a vote of thanks to the Council had 
been passed, on the motion of Mr. Watts. 
