412 TlMEHRI. 
no party politics here, and it could then only mean that 
the Society would be prevented from discussing matters 
of Government Policy. He thought that if the term was 
defined, they might discuss many matters which had 
been hitherto prohibited by the cuckoo cry of ,( politics/' 
comincj from those who were not interested in the matter 
sought to be discussed. They should consider the 
matter in a liberal sense. Nobody .wanted to upset the 
Government, and he thought that they might discuss 
matters of commercial importance as long as the 
Government did not declare them to be wrong in so 
doing. 
Mr. Drysdale thought it very undesirable to interfere 
with the seftion in question. It had been found very useful 
in the past, and had prevented many undesirable discus- 
sions which might have done injury to the Society. There 
was no doubt that if this rule had not existed they would 
have been frequently called upon to discuss matters really 
political. 
The Venerable Archdeacon Austin moved as an 
amendment, that, '' A small Committee of the Directors 
be appointed to define the word " politics" as mentioned 
in the Ordinance, and to submit their definition to a 
general meeting, and on its approval, this definition shall 
be put on record to assist the ruling of any future Presi- 
dent, should any such question arise." 
Mr. Watt seconded the amendment. 
The Chairman said there was a great deal in the old 
saying " Let well alone." The Society had worked 
under this rule for 44 years, and he did not know of 
anything in the circumstances of the Society, colony, 
or community, that rendered the discussion of this 
