818 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 20, 1892. 
The N.C.S, Imbroglio and Meeting. 
Mr. Eichard Dean did not carry out his alleged intention to resign 
hii position as Secretary of the National Chrysanthemum Society at the 
meeting held last week, but adopted the more prudent course of regret¬ 
ting the action he took in attempting to influence a “certain number” of 
members in the election of a Chairman of the Floral Committee. We 
are informed that he read a lengthy statement or “ manifesto” with the 
object of showing how wrong it was for anyone to question his methods, 
and how rightly he had acted in the interests of the Society. Naturally 
the Secretary would take that ground, as if all the world were against him 
it would only show from his view the world’s wrongheadedness. In his 
recent action, which led to the imbroglio, it may be conceded without 
any reservation that he was animated by the best of motives, but there 
appears to have only been seventeen persons in an assembly of fifty or 
sixty who could publicly sanction the course he pursued. It was a 
partisan course, or the appeal he issued would have been to all the 
members and not to a selected number only. 
As a private member he may have the right to canvas for votes in a 
“ private ” manner, but in the case in question the canvas was official 
on the face of it, or would be so regarded, as official stationery was used. 
It was intended to influence the election in favour of a gentleman who 
was not a member of the Floral Committee, and there cannot be a doubt 
that it prejudiced another gentleman who was and is a member of that 
Committee. Mr. Dean’s justification is that he did not know this 
member would be nominated, hut then it follows that he did not know 
he would not. An error in judgment was committed, but not with an 
intention to offend any individual, still an error all the same ; and such 
mistakes on the part of any secretary, paid or not, could have no other 
effect than creating dissension in the committee and among the members 
of any society. But mistakes made through want of thought, or under 
the impulse of good intentions, are essentially venial, and therefore not 
of a nature to impel to either resignation or expulsion. The rebuke of 
the meeting was quite sufficient, and the history of the case may not be 
without effect in cases of a similar character that may possibly occur 
elsewhere. 
Mr. Dean appears to have a strong aversion to be referred to as the 
paid Secretary of the N.C.S., and though his remarks on the subject at 
the meeting did not refer to us, it may be said that when we so 
described him on a previous occasion we had not the slightest idea tliat 
the term was objectionable. We had in mind the fact that on the 
demise of Mr. Holmes it was decided that his successor should be paid 
for his services, the amount, we think, being £50 a year. We did not 
know until quite recently that when Mr. Dean was informed a salary 
was attached to his office he replied in effect, “ Oh, please do not call 
it salary, but rather allow it for clerical assistance.” He has a right to 
his preference, though at the same time it does not detract from the 
dignity of gentlemen equal in social status to a Secretary of the National 
Chrysanthemum Society to be paid for their services—to wit. Her 
Majesty’s Ministers and the Secretaries of the Royal Horticultural and 
Royal Botanic Societies. Not one of these gentlemen could be respected 
more than they are now if their emoluments were differently described, 
except by snobs who are unworthy of notice. Mr. Dean, we presume, 
takes the money that is allowed and disburses it as he wishes, though 
he does a great deal of secretarial work himself, as he can do very ably. 
We did not intend to imply the slightest reproach by our reference, and 
we are perfectly ready to describe him as Honorary Secretary, if such 
he be, if that is more agreeable to him, though he will remain in the 
estimation of most men the same Richard Dean as before—impulsive, 
zealous, and autocratic, but well-meaning; a keen controversialist, who 
derives more pleasure from smiting with his keen pen than in having 
his own conduct impugned under any circumstances whatever; yet as 
a public man he is entitled to the honour of public criticism. 
We hear nothing but praise oi; ..e conduct of Mr. Gordon at the 
meeting. His attitude is described as most befitting to the occasion, and 
his speech admirable in matter and tone. He would most willingly 
have supported Mr. Shea as Chairman of the Floral Committee of 
the N.C.S. under ordinary circumstances, and Mr. Shea would as 
willingly gee Mr. Gordon in that position ; but both gentlemen decline 
the honour now, as might be expected, as did others, Mr. Fowler con¬ 
senting to occupy the position, and we are pleased to note he was 
elected with unanimity. We are glad also to note that he brushed 
aside a proposition for another meeting of a conduct-inquiring order. 
It was surely not necessary and could lead to nothing substantial. 
Sober work on sound clear business lines will be better for the Society 
than contentious “ meetings.” 
The one of which a report is 'given below will, we hope and believe, 
strengthen the Society. It gave the death blow to autocracy, and 
established a strong “ opposition ”—strong not only in numbers but in 
administrative ability, and as the members composing it are not less earnest 
in their desire for the prosperity of the N.C.S. than the active officials 
are we may expect that mistakes will be reduced to a minimum, and 
that prudence will be the governing factor in the conduct of affairs. 
The Society has attained a splendid position in the floral world, and we 
regret the disturbing influences that arose within it through admitted 
indiscretions, intensified, we fear, rather than diminished by the dalliance 
that was allowed to prevail in connection with them. A national 
society that is afraid of “ exposures ” cannot for many years remain 
worthy of its name. Publicity has done much to raise the N.C.S. to its 
present position, and we suspect there is small fear of a repetition of the 
errors of the past ; had they been permitted to continue, hidden and 
unchecked, they would have eaten like a canker worm into the very 
vitals of the Society ; it is worthy of a better fate, and the bright 
future we hope to see. _ 
A meeting of the General Committee of this Society was held at 
Anderton’s Hotel on Wednesday, the 1.3th inst., when Mr. E. C. Jukes 
presided. 
The first item of importance in the evening procedure was a com¬ 
munication from Mr. C. E. Shea, in which he referred to the circum¬ 
stances attendant upon his recent election to the chairmanship of the 
Floral Committee. He felt quite sure the Secretary, in acting as he did 
by making a canvas, thought he was doing what was best in the interest 
of the Society ; but Mr. Shea felt it was an error of judgment, and could 
not therefore accept either the position of member of that Committee or 
the chairmanship. Considering the services Mr. Gordon had rendered 
he would suggest that that gentleman should be elected. 
Mr. R. Dean then said that early in the year Mr. Ballantine had 
intimated that business would prevent him attending as frequently as 
before, and he thought the time had now arrived when a Chairman of 
the Floral Committee should be appointed as distinct from the Chairman 
of the General Committee. Mr. Shea was approached with the view of 
seeing whether he would accept the post, as he was a man unpledged 
in any way, and quite unconnected with the trade. He was also a 
desirable man in many other ways, and Mr. Dean was quite unaware 
that anybody else was likely to be proposed lor the post. Under those 
circumstances he did issue a request marked private to a certain number 
of the members, first, that they should vote for him as a member of the 
Committee, and, secondly, as Chairman. Up to the moment Mr. Gordon 
was nominated he had no suspicion that such was to be the case, and it 
was only a few minutes previous to the meeting that he heard that Mr. 
Payne was likely to be proposed ; but the latter gentleman expressed 
his willingness at once to retire in favour of Mr. Shea, whom he con¬ 
sidered far better as an independent member and an amateur to occupy 
the chairmanship. Mr. Dean could not see he had done anything he 
could regret. He protested against being regarded as a paid Secretary, 
and regretted such an expression should have been used in the columns 
of a contemporary, and that in spite of all his efforts no withdrawal 
had been made. 
Mr. Gordon considered the question whether the Secretary was a 
paid official or not of no great importance, but as a matter of fact he 
was so advised and quite believed he was. He did not intend to allude 
to the election of the Floral Committee and Chairman because he was 
defeated. There was no one he would like to see occupy the position 
more than Mr. Shea, and at the last meeting he was perfectly satisfied 
with the result until the meeting was over and he learnt a circular had 
been sent round to influence the voting. It was a question that affected 
every member of the Society. If any official used his position to 
influence members in the matter of election the meetings were simply a 
farce, and could have but one result—viz., to discredit the proceedings 
of the Society. He thought the Committee was bound to express an 
opinion whether such a proceeding was right and proper in the manage¬ 
ment of the Society. He was not a man to make disturbances or create 
a want of harmony, and did not want it to be regarded as a personal 
matter ; but he had a duty to perform to the members who had voted 
for him. He objected to proceedings that brought his name and that 
of his friend Mr. Shea into publicity in the papers in such a 
way. It was for the Committee to decide whether they would support 
such proceedings. At present it appeared the Chairman and Secretary 
were alone responsible, but immediately the Committee expressed their 
approval they assumed the responsibility. It was not for any officer to 
influence elections—(loud cheers)—and all that was wanted was for the 
proceedings to he carried out in a straightforward manner. He would 
move “ that the Committee desire to place on record its disapproval of 
the action of the Secretary in writing to several of its members with 
the view to influencing their votes in favour of one of the candidates on 
the occasion of the election of the Floral Committee on March 6th.” 
Mr. Rundle thought the whole of the Committee should deprecate 
the action. It was an endeavour to influence the Committee. He had 
not received a circular. He thought the Committee should consider the 
advisability of having a paid Secretary, and thus stop all squabbling. 
He thought the action w’ould cause a loss of confidence, both by the 
general public and exhibitors at the Floral Committee. 
Mr. Bevan presumed the Secretary acted in his private capacity— 
any other member might have done so. Other names might have been 
proposed but for the circular. He thought they ought not to go outside 
the Committee for a Chairman. 
Mr. Witty could not do otherwise than support the motion, and was 
very sorry Mr. Dean took such an injudicious step. Would it not 
have been better to leave the election in the hands of the Floral 
Committee themselves? 
Mr. Addison criticised very fully the Secretary’s statement, and 
supported Mr. Gordon’s motion. He considered the Secretary a paid 
officer, no matter in what light the payment for clerical assistance was 
