THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 
G37 
Council would again consider the proposition, in order to decide upon it. The Council 
proposed to make an alteration in their Bill, which would give the members of the 
trade a more extensive voice in the election of the Council. By the 16th clause it 
was proposed that chemists and druggists registered under the Act, having passed the 
Minor examination, might be elected Associates, and might vote at the meetings of 
the Society. It was now proposed to alter the clause so that all the chemists and 
druggists registered under the Act, whether they passed the Minor examination or not, 
should be as eligible as Associates to have a vote at the Society’s meetings. It was also 
proposed to allow in future all voters the same privilege as that now enjoyed by 
country members, that of sending their voting papers, and to insert a clause in the Bill 
guaranteeing exemption from serving on juries to all who were registered under the Act. 
The Council thought these concessions would be ample—that they were very liberal— 
protecting nothing but the title of Pharmaceutical Chemist. 
Mr. Pedler hoped the meeting would not pass over in silence the demand which the 
United Society had made as a sine qua non. He could not for a moment allow it to be 
considered that they at all assented to it. 
Mr. "VVaugii asked if he was to understand that the meeting wished to limit the dis¬ 
cretion of the Council in that respect. Did they mean to say that they could not allow 
those gentlemen to come in on the terms proposed ? It was very necessary that the 
meeting should most unequivocally decide what should be done by the Council. He 
was in this difficulty, that he did not know who the gentlemen referred to represented, 
and he wished to be informed whether they were authorized to speak the sentiments of 
those who were called outsiders, as the Council was those of the Pharmaceutical Che¬ 
mists and Druggists. Unless they were assured of that, they did not know that the 
outside gentlemen would be disposed to accept what they might do in the matter. The 
United Society, he thought, was something in the position of the United States, and 
that many of them would object to be represented by the persons who were holding the 
conference. 
Mr. Watts reminded the meeting that last year the admission of chemists and drug¬ 
gists to the benefits of the Pharmaceutical Society was somewhat fully discussed, and 
Mr. Dickinson on that occasion made some very pertinent and just remarks upon the ques¬ 
tion. He (Mr. Watts) had been connected with the Society almost ever since its for¬ 
mation, and he should loudly protest against those gentlemen being admitted to all the 
privileges of the Society. With regard to the other alterations he did not object to them, 
and he must add that he considered them very liberal indeed. When they might have 
joined the Society in 1852 they objected, because, they said, they would only get the 
Journal for their guinea, and they did not want it; but the moment the Society had a 
Bill passed exempting Pharmaceutical Chemists from serving on juries, they thought it 
was something worth having for their guinea. He protested against their being ad¬ 
mitted to the position which the members of the Society had worked for, laboured for, 
and paid for, and that if they were admitted as Associates it would be treating them very 
liberally. He hoped the meeting would not separate without passing a unanimous 
vote to that effect. 
Mr. Collins said he thought it would be very indiscreet of the meeting to do so. 
They had much better leave the Council unfettered in the matter, because it would 
place them in this difficulty, that if the select committee insisted upon it they would 
have to abandon the Bill. The members of the Council, he was proud to say, were men 
of the world, of great experience and judgment, and capable of being trusted in the 
matter. They knew what was wanted, and would, no doubt, do all in their power to 
get it; but if they could not, why we must say no more about it. They must recollect 
that the select committee might report that it was desirable to legislate in a certain way. 
If so, what was then to be done ? 
Mr. Long expressed a hope that they would not lose their Bill through any bickerings 
between the two Societies. 
Mr. Randall considered it was much better to leave the Council to deal with the Bill 
before Parliament in the manner they deemed best, and not pass any abstract resolution. 
At the same time, it would be desirable to strengthen their hands by an expression, of 
the opinion of the meeting. There was more to be done by constituents writing or talk¬ 
ing to their representatives than by passing abstract resolutions. To show the Council 
what was the general feeling of the meeting would be a much better guidance for them 
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