April 6,1872.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
Sll 
Both their objects seemed pretty nearly identical. Ho 
had not intended to say more than half-a-dozen words in 
support of his motion, thinking any discussion upon it 
had bettor come in committee, if it were referred as he 
suggested. He agreed with Mr. Frazer that £48 was a 
miserable pittance to dole out for provincial education 
during the year, but he did not think the Council were 
altogether to blame, because they had consistently fol¬ 
lowed the recommendations of the Committee; and with 
regard to the Committee, there was this to be said, 
they were appointed to strike out a new path, a novel 
task was imposed upon them, and no doubt they did the 
best they could. Nevertheless the result showed that 
something more was needed, and he thought some steps 
should be taken to see if this state of affairs could not be 
altered. He did not say that the present system was 
not the best, but he should like it to be carefully con¬ 
sidered. 
Mr. Sutton said he remembered being on the Com¬ 
mittee, and the discussions which took place, when it 
was the general opinion they were doing enough for the 
local associations in making the grants which they did, 
for if they gave the associations all they asked, he was 
quite sure they would do them more harm than good. 
On the other hand, there were, undoubtedly, cases in 
which students did not get the advantages they ought to 
have, and therefore it was the general opinion that an 
extension of these grants ought to be made. The ques¬ 
tion was, however, whether any such motion were re¬ 
quired, for he thought the Committee were quite in a 
position to deal with applications as they came before 
them, and would, probably, in future do so more liberally 
than they had heretofore. 
Mr. Smith said it.was evident the present system 
wanted amendment by the result produced. One diffi¬ 
culty was in getting gentlemen to be sponsors for the 
materials sent to the associations. There were certain for¬ 
malities to be gone through, which threw a difficulty in 
the way of making an application. 
Mr. Greenish said many applications were made 
which had to be refused through not being in the proper 
form. 
Mr. Williams said the question was whether the pre¬ 
scribed form was the best that could be adopted. He 
thought Mr. Smith’s motion would meet the whole of 
the case, and it was a very fair question whether the 
present regulations were as perfect as they might be. 
A great many of their members, both in the coimtry and 
at the Council, were of opinion that they were not. If 
that were so, an alteration should be made, but it must 
be done with caution. 
Mr. Bottle said the subject-matter of the motion had 
his hearty sympathy, for he believed they were not ren¬ 
dering that assistance to the provinces which it was their 
duty to do. But he did not think this was a proper 
time to bring it forward,—just before the new Council 
were elected, when there might be a great change in the 
constitution of the Committee. He would suggest that 
it should stand over until after the General Meeting. 
Mr. Smith said he thought there was nothing to be 
gained by delay; if they waited for a new Council, and 
then for that new Council to get regularly into work, 
half a year would be lost. At present there was really 
no system at all. 
Mr. Atherton said the Society, some time ago, af¬ 
firmed the principle of granting aid to provincial asso¬ 
ciations, and a system introduced by Mr. Reynolds was 
approved by the Council; that was subsequently changed 
again, and all within eighteen months. And the proof 
of the great advantage of the aid given by the Council, 
and the liberality with which it was given, was, that no 
applications, or comparatively few, had been made for it. 
He did not find fault with the Council, however, but with 
the system which wanted amending, but, at the same 
time, he agreed there would be no time to do so before the 
new Council came into office. 
Mr. Hills suggested that the Annual Meeting would 
be the time to bring it forward. 
Mr. Atherton said the subject was discussed at the 
Annual Meeting two years ago, when it was decided that 
this aid should be given liberally. They could not say 
that had yet been done. 
Mr. Groves said ho would second Mr. Frazer’s motion, 
as he thought it was a thoroughly business-like way o J < 
dealing with the matter. If all the applications were 
received at the time when they knew how much money 
could be applied to the purpose, they could be dealt with 
methodically, whereas when they came at different- 
times, the same members of Council were not always 
present; sometimes the vote went one way and some¬ 
times another. He was, however, entirely opposed to* 
any great alteration in the method of making these- 
grants, and could not approve the idea of squandering- 
money on little associations throughout the country,, 
which could only give very imperfect assistance to stu¬ 
dents. He thought the great aim should be to establish 
in some three or four centres, an efficient system of 
education. 
Mr. Williams thought the idea of making grants 
once a year a very good one, but the details ought to bo 
considered in Committee. 
Mr. Sandford thought that the Council did not stand 
on very good ground with its constituents with regard 
to this matter. It was understood two years ago that 
aid should be given to provincial education; since that 
time rules had been made and altered, but they had 
never had a clear understanding of what was to be done. 
Something more than what was being done was required, 
and he considered that more aid should be given to associ¬ 
ations in the provinces, to promote education where local 
efforts have been shown and are insufficient. He held that 
there should be a decided evidence of inclination in the 
districts to help themselves, for if people would not help 
themselves, they could not expect help from the Society. 
The report of the Sheffield Pharmaceutical Chemists’' 
Association referred with regret to the falling off in the- 
classes, and “to the marked lukewarmness on the part of 
the apprentices to avail themselves of its advantages.” 
The Council ought not to encourage that lukewarmness 
or assist people who did not endeavour to assist them¬ 
selves. He would propose that the Provincial Education. 
Committee be requested to consider the present regula¬ 
tions for granting assistance; and to assist them in their 
investigations, they should have before them the pro¬ 
positions of Mr. Smith and Mr. Frazer. He thought it 
had better be done at once before the Annual Meeting, so* 
that they might be prepared with some explanation, 
when the question was raised, as it would inevitably bc- y 
upon that occasion. 
Mr. Shaw said Mr. Sandford’s proposition was prac¬ 
tically the same as that of Mr. Smith. He referred to* 
the manner in which various applications had been re¬ 
ceived, as showing that the system was very indefinite- 
and undecided. He therefore agreed with the spirit of Mr. 
Frazer’s proposition, although he preferred Mr. Smith’s, 
because it necessarily embraced that of Mr. Frazer. The 
difficulty of getting gentlemen to become guarantors of 
books or apparatus had been referred to, but all these 
matters might be discussed better in Committee. 
Mr. Hills thought the great part of the blame, if 
blame there were, rested with the members in the various 
towns. It must be remembered that the Provincial Edu¬ 
cation Committee had been trying an experiment, and. 
past experience would no doubt enable them to act 
more efficiently in future. If these two motions were- 
referred to the Committee for consideration, they might 
bring forward a system which would be more liberal and 
extensive; and the sooner they did so, the better it would, 
be for the credit of the Council and the benefit of tho 
country members. 
After some further discussion, Mr. Smith’s resolution 
was put and carried. 
