422 
ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
they went to Parliament for a Penal Act, there were some members 
who would ask, “ Who wants a Penal Act ? Are they more respectable 
than the individuals whom they are asking the Act against ? ” When 
he read Clause No. 12, of the Supplementary Chapter of the Regula¬ 
tions in connection with the Charter, he was surprised at the unlimited 
power which the Council possessed over every one of its members. 
But in reading further on in the Charter there was no line laid down 
in any shape or way. They were, as it were, a body of men placed 
body and soul in the hands of the Council (a laugh). He did not 
object to that; he was satisfied that they should hold that unlimited 
power, but he was anxious to know, as an individual member of the 
profession, in what way they were ready to exercise that unlimited power. 
He had no doubt that if it was exercised it would be exercised for the 
benefit of the profession, but the clauses in connection with the matter 
were in such a crude state that no one knew how the Council might 
act for the benefit of the profession. In making these remarks he 
referred to the getting of a Penal Act for the profession. Now, the 
very first thing that would be said in the House of Commons, if they 
went as a body, would be—How do they regulate the conduct of their 
members ? There was nothing printed to show what these regulations 
were; and although they could point to the clause showing that the 
Council had unlimited power to expel any member from the profession 
for a sufficient cause, there was no provision stating how the Council 
should act in this matter. What he wished to propose in the shape of 
a resolution was the following:—“ That the profession represented by 
the members now present at their annual meeting consider that the 
time has arrived when the Council should embody in a series of resolu¬ 
tions what derelictions of conduct on the part of any of their members 
will subject them to the cognisance of the Council with a view to 
putting Clause 12 in operation against them.” In his opinion, if that 
were done, it would not only be a most beneficial thing for every 
member of the profession as a profession, but it would have a great 
tendency to raise every member of the profession if it was known that 
the Council in connection with it had such unlimited powers, and that 
they would exercise them in certain circumstances. He would be glad 
if any gentleman would be good enough to second the resolution, and 
make any remarks regarding it, and he would also be glad to answer 
any questions in connection with it (applause). 
Mr. Lawson , Manchester, said he had great pleasure in seconding Mr. 
Dollar’s proposition, and he entirely concurred in all that he had said. 
There was another matter that he wished to bring before the Council, 
and he was enabled the better to do so as he had experienced that morning 
the labour in connection with it, namely, as to the voting papers. He 
would suggest to the Council respectfully that they should see that next 
year the voting papers were sent out in a manner similar to the voting 
papers in a Parliamentary election. The names were in larger print, and 
those who voted put a cross against them, so that the scrutineers had 
little or no difficulty, while the voters would also have less difficulty in 
marking those gentlemen for whom they voted. There was considerable 
difficulty experienced at present, and there were a great many bad 
voting papers. He might say that he had had applications from a number 
of people asking how they were to vote. He had no doubt that it would 
be for the general welfare of the profession if this matter were taken 
into consideration. 
Mr. Mackintosh asked if Mr. Lawson proposed that in future they 
should vote by ballot? 
