"REPORT OF THE AUDITORS FOR 1895.

"The Auditors appointed to examine the Treasurer's Accounts of the Society for the Year 1895,

"REPORT:

"That they have compared the Entries in the Books with the several Vouchers for the same, from the 1st January to the 31st December, 1895, and find them correct, showing the Receipts (including a Balance of 417l. 148. 4d., from 1894) to have been 2,211l. 18. 5d., and the Payments 1,822l. 138. 7d., leaving a Balance in favour of the Society of 3881. 78. 10d. at the 31st December, 1895.

"They have also had laid before them an Estimate of the Assets and Liabilities of the Society at the same date, the former amounting to 6,8371. 158. 9d., and the latter to 242l. 138. 6d., leaving a Balance in favour of the Society of 6,5951. 28. 3d., exclusive of the present value of the absolute Reversionary Interest bequeathed to the Society by the late Dr. Guy.

"The amount standing to the credit of the Building Fund at the end of the year 1895, was 273l. 148. 1d., of which 2671. 98. 8d. was invested in 251l. 158. 3d. Metropolitan Three and a Half per Cent. Stock, in the name of the Treasurer, Richard B. Martin, Esq., M.P., thus leaving a balance of 6l. 4s. 5d. to be invested.

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They have verified the Investments of the Society's General Funds and Building Fund, and also the Banker's Balance, all of which were found correct.

"They further find that at the end of the year 1894 the number of Fellows on the list was 933, which number was diminished in the course of the year to the extent of 59, by Death, Resignation, or Default, and that 54 new Fellows were elected, leaving on the list on the 31st December, 1895, 928 Fellows of the Society.

(Signed)

"J. O. CHADWICK, F.C.A.,'

"SAM. DYER NIX, F.C.A., Auditors." "CHAS. ATKINSON,

5th February, 1896.

PROCEEDINGS of the SIXTY-SECOND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

SIR RAWSON W. RAWSON K.C.M.G., C.B., Honorary Vice-President, in the Chair.

The circular convening the meeting was read.

The minutes of the last ordinary meeting were read and confirmed.

The Report of the Council was taken as read.

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The CHAIRMAN moved: That the Report of the Council, the Abstract of Receipts and Payments, the Balance Sheet of Assets and Liabilities, and the Report of the Auditors for 1895, be adopted, entered on the Minutes, and printed in the Journal."

Dr. F. J. MOUAT seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Mr. THOMAS HUDSON and Mr. R. H. HOOKER were appointed scrutineers of the ballot for the election of the Council and Officers for the ensuing session.

The CHAIRMAN said that, while the ballot was proceeding, he had a matter to bring forward which he was quite sure would meet with universal approval. They were all aware that Mr. A. E. Bateman, the late Honorary Secretary, had felt compelled by the state of his health and the pressure of official duties to resign that post after fourteen years' service, and the Council could not part with their esteemed colleague without recording their opinion not only of his services towards the Society but of their personal regard for him, and of the sense of loss they experienced in the withdrawal of his active, useful, and friendly co-operation. They had therefore passed the following resolution:

"The Council of the Royal Statistical Society desire to place on record their sense of the loss which the Society sustains in the retirement of Mr. A. E. Bateman, C.M.G., from the office of Honorary Secretary, the duties of which he has so efficiently discharged for a period of fourteen years, with great advantage to the best interests of the Society, and with the constant esteem and regard of his colleagues. The Council deeply regret that Mr. Bateman has felt it needful to relinquish office from considerations of health, and they earnestly hope for his early and complete recovery."

He was very glad that Mr. Bateman was able to be present that day, and had much pleasure in handing him this resolution, with the strong expression of his personal regard. Mr. Bateman and he were, he might say, colleagues, having both entered public life in the Board of Trade, although he left the department after

thirteen years for the colonies. It was a great pleasure to him to know that it was to an old colleague on the Board of Trade that he offered this tribute of admiration and thanks.

Mr. A. E. BATEMAN said that it was not easy for him to return thanks for this resolution, which placed his services much higher than they deserved. He had had the advantage of sharing the Honorary Secretariat with most efficient colleagues-Mr. J. B. Martin and Major Craigie, and of being assisted by an excellent paid staff. It had been a great blow to him to have to give up the work which he had done, if inefficiently, at any rate with great zest for fourteen years. But he was more than ever convinced that, even if his health were what he should like it to be, it was very desirable that a permanent secretary should retire from his post after fourteen years. Such an official was inclined to get crystallised, perhaps to get lazy, and he was sure it was to the advantage of the Society to have new men who would bring new ideas and possibly get rid of some of the prejudiced notions one was apt to acquire after so long a period. He was glad to think that his successors would carry on the work much better than he had done, and he was sure that the Society would receive from them every care, and that they would not only do all they could to increase the membership, but would keep up the tone and character of the papers, and maintain the standard both of practical and also of scientific statistics, for which their Society had been favourably known for so many years.

The CHAIRMAN then announced that the proposed list of Council and Officers for the ensuing session had been unanimously adopted, and said that he could not pass over this list without making one or two observations on it. First as to the appointment of his esteemed colleague and friend, Mr. J. B. Martin, as President. He did not think they could have made a more favourable selection, for he knew thoroughly the requirements of the Society, and had for many years been an active promoter of its interests. Then as to their new Secretaries, Mr. Noel Humphreys had been for years one of their most useful and valuable Fellows and colleagues on the Council, who, in his official capacity, had the opportunity of rendering the Society most valuable assistance, and had always shown himself most desirous of doing so. Mr. Baines had made his name in India, but had shown a determination not to lose it at home. Both gentlemen

had entered on their office with zeal, and he was sure that the Society might be heartily congratulated on their appointment. He also wished to propose a vote of thanks to the scrutineers of the ballot for their services on the present occasion.

This vote having been immediately carried:

Mr. THOMAS HUDSON, in returning thanks, wished to ask as an old Fellow of the Society whether the alteration in the time of the Ordinary Meetings from 7.45 to 5 o'clock had proved in all

respects satisfactory, and if it had been productive of an increased attendance or the reverse? If the latter, he thought they ought to revert to the former practice.

THE CHAIRMAN said he would ask the late Senior Secretary, Mr. John B. Martin, to answer that question, as being better acquainted with the facts than himself.

Mr. J. B. MARTIN wished to thank the Chairman and Fellows for the cordial manner in which they had received him on his election as President. Mr. Bateman had told them that in his opinion after fourteen years' service as Honorary Secretary, it was in the interest of the Society that there should be some change. He regretted that the change in Mr. Bateman's case had been precipitated by considerations of health. He had himself served as Honorary Secretary for sixteen years, but in his case the Society had been kind enough to bring about the change in a different way. The Chairman had referred to the intimate knowledge he had thus acquired of the working of the Society, but he felt that this very circumstance threw a greater responsibility upon him in undertaking the duties of President. He would do his best to fulfil those duties adequately, knowing that he should have the cordial support of those with whom he had worked in entire harmony during the last sixteen years. The question put by Mr. Hudson was referred to on page 448 of the Report. The change in the hour of meeting had not been made without very careful deliberation on all the considerations involved. Whether the attendance had been seriously affected thereby he was not prepared to say without having the figures before him, but he was inclined to think there had not been much change. In the first year there had been a decided increase, but that increase had apparently disappeared in the last session. The Council thought that while the numbers were little affected, the present hour was rather more acceptable to those who came.

The CHAIRMAN said there was another matter to which he desired to invite attention. During the last two or three years the Council had exerted themselves to the best of their ability to obtain good papers for the ordinary meetings. A Papers Committee had been formed to forward this work, and the Council really did wish for the co-operation of members in interesting persons in the work of the Society, not only by inviting them to become Fellows, but also by asking them to contribute papers on subjects of interest, even if they were unable to join the Society.

Mr. F. HENDRIKS proposed a cordial vote of thanks to the retiring Council and Officers for their services during the past session, and to Sir Rawson Rawson for so ably presiding on the present occasion. He had himself been a member of the Council, with a few intermissions, for more than forty years, and therefore might speak with some little experience of past Councils. They would all agree that their affairs had never been more ably con

ducted than during the past year, and the cordial thanks of all Fellows were certainly due for the way in which the best interests of the Society had been furthered.

Mr. R. H. HOOKER seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously.

The CHAIRMAN (SIR RAWSON W. RAWSON) in responding said he had just completed his sixtieth year of Fellowship of the Society; nor was he likely ever to lose his sympathy with the working and objects of the Society as long as health and strength were spared

to him.