May 18,1872.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
041 
to put that discussion into the form of a resolution, to he 
accepted or rejected by a meeting, is another thing. We 
may discuss any question, hut when it comes to a vote of 
Yes or No, then things are changed, and it is against 
that alone that my resolution points. We must hear in 
mind that we meet here as a body of members of the 
Pharmaceutical Society; hut this Society does not em¬ 
brace the whole trade. There is a large body, numeri¬ 
cally far stronger than ourselves, outside the pale of the 
Pharmaceutical Society, and those gentlemen naturally 
and justly, I think, regard the action of our Society with 
a somewhat jealous eye. When they know that they are 
completely in the hands of our Society, it is hut natural 
that they should like to know previously what subjects 
may crop up at these meetings; and hence, I. think, the 
desirability of adopting the resolution I have now 
read. It is simply a matter of honest dealing, so that we 
may all know what we are about, and that nothing may 
be brought forward under this clause without due notice. 
It may be urged again, that circumstances may arise 
where it would be eery important that immediate action 
should be taken; but I apprehend that this resolution 
will in no way interfere with any such action. Such 
action would belong to the Council, and this resolution 
in no way fetters the hands of the Council, it simply 
regulates the action of our General Meetings with 
regard to the particular subject of this clause. Another 
•objection which may be raised is, that we have the power 
of calling a special general meeting should any objec¬ 
tionable resolution be passed; but I apprehend that if a 
resolution had passed this meeting, it might obtain 
the sanction of the Privy Council and become law 
long before a special meeting could be called. I will 
now commend the resolution to the attention of the 
meeting, with the hope that it will be adopted. I 
would add that I have good grounds for supposing that 
many of our Council look upon it in a favourable light, 
and I believe its being adopted will strengthen the 
hands of the Council and benefit the trade at large. 
Mr. Wade said: I second the resolution with great 
pleasure, because I think it will be for the benefit of the 
Society, and also the trade. I think the discussion that 
has taken place this day has all gone in favour of this 
resolution; and if it had not been that the sentiments 
uttered all appeared to me to tend to support this reso¬ 
lution, I should have taken an opportunity of making 
some remarks myself. It is evident that the Society 
desires to obtain the confidence of the trade at large. It 
has struck me for years past that there has been a con¬ 
fusion of ideas on this point whether intentional or 
not. There are two duties this Society has to perform, 
one in its capacity as being a corporate body, the other 
as a private society or club; but the two seem to me so 
wrapt up together, that that which is the duty to the 
trade at large becomes involved in that which is the 
privilege of the members of the Society. Nearly all the 
arguments have been so confused on this point that it 
appears to me to be almost impossible for the Council of 
the Society to perceive what is its duty to the trade at 
large, and what is its duty to the members as a private 
society ; because, taking the Society, what is its position 
after all ? Nothing more than a private privilege which 
people have on paying subscriptions. If such is the 
•case, and if, as stated in the Journal, there are in 
Leeds, Hull, and other large towns, such an immense 
number of tradesmen who are not members of the 
Society, is it a matter of right or justice that you should 
■on the spur of the moment bring forwaixl any resolution 
and make it a law of the trade ? Apart from that, I appeal 
to you on behalf of your own members. Your own mem¬ 
bers have allowed you to come here in confidence to-day, 
not having thought it necessary to come themselves, be¬ 
cause they believe there is nothing likely to be done here 
that would be detrimental to their interests. There has 
been nothing sensational expected. They believed there 
would be simply a discussion on the Report, and a few 
other matters which would not he to their injury or 
affect their interests. But if it had occurred to any gen¬ 
tleman that this was a favourable opportunity, being a 
quiet meeting, when by getting a certain number of gen¬ 
tlemen who agreed with him he could pass a resolution, 
and if he had chosen to bring forward a resolution at 
this meeting, no one knows'what injury might be done ; 
and it would be impossible to prevent that becoming law. 
I ask you, therefore, to support this resolution, because 
I know that you have nothing in your minds but that 
which is fair and aboveboard, and this will ensure due 
notice being given beforehand of any important resolu¬ 
tion such as I have referred to. You have said from the 
beginning that the Society has for its object, not simply 
present good, but also the future welfare of the whole 
trade; and in carrying out this idea, and recollecting 
that your private membership is entirely distinct from 
your action in a corporate capacity, and the powers en¬ 
trusted to you by the Act of Parliament, I hope you will 
support this resolution which I have much pleasure in 
seconding. 
The President said the resolution simply asked the 
Council to pass a bye-law requiring fourteen days notice 
of any resolution having legal consequences, and, there¬ 
fore, he saw no difficulty in its being put. 
Mr. Carteighe said he quite agreed that it was very 
desirable to have a fair field and no favour for anything 
which might be brought forward, but he thought many 
gentlemen present were not quite clear what it was that 
was proposed, and he would therefore suggest that the 
resolution should be withdrawn and the matter left in 
the hands of the Council. At any rate he should like to 
ask the solicitor what the legal consequence of the re¬ 
solution would be. 
The President said if Mr. Vizer thought fit to with¬ 
draw the resolution, he was authorized to say that Mr. 
Brown, who had been balloted upon the next Council, 
would undertake to bring forward the subject at the 
earliest possible opportunity. 
Mr. Giles said if they passed the resolution it would 
go as a request to the Council to pass a bye law to that 
effect. He was not quite clear about the matter him¬ 
self, because it seemed to him they -were going to tie 
their hands, and it was a very good rule in business 
never to tie up your own hands. He did not see any 
likelihood of any harm arising if this were simply in¬ 
tended to prevent surprise and things being brought 
forward at the general meeting which ought not to 
be without notice, and without being properly debated 
by all interested. 
Mr. Atkins thought the resolution asked the meeting 
to do what it condemned itself. 
Mr. Vizer said that was not the case, because his 
resolution involved no legal consequences. 
Mr. Giles asked if such a bye-law would be operative 
if passed. 
The President said the resolution before the meeting 
bound them to nothing except that it urged upon the 
Council the importance of forming a bye-law, that bye¬ 
law must come before a special general meeting before 
it could be confirmed. 
Mr. Brown: I cannot see any purpose that can be 
served by passing the resolution, except as an intimation 
to the incoming Council of the feeling of this meeting 
and the feeling—which I believe is expressed by this 
meeting—of a considerable number outside. If Mr. 
Vizer, with the assurance that he has already received 
that this subject shall be brought forward at the very 
first meeting of the Council, sees fit to withdraw the re¬ 
solution, I believe his purpose will have been answered, 
and time may be saved. The resolution itself cannot 
have any legal effect, as it is not competent for this meet¬ 
ing to undertake the question of an alteration of a bye¬ 
law. Proper steps must of a necessity be taken by the 
Council at its very first meeting, to produce an alteration 
in the bye-law as wished by the mover and seconder 
