34 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Mr. Shenstone thoroughly backed up the idea of an efficient central organisation.
Mr. W. G. Shadrake, a member of the Leyton School Board, said he had no
doubt that many of the local bodies who had sent in applications to the County
Council for a share of the money had done so simply with the view of being in it
when the plunder was divided. (Laughter). He regarded the small sums
they were likely to get as a white elephant, as they would be too small to be of
any practical use for technical education. He believed many of them would be
willing to withdraw their applications, and to petition the County Council in
favour of the scheme of the Field Club. He should be very glad to bring forward
a motion of that kind at the Board of which he was a member.
Several other members took part in the discussion, and the unanimous opinion
appeared to be that the scheme was one well worthy of support, but no vote was
taken on the subject.
This brought to a close one of the most interesting and fully-attended Annual
Meetings ever held by the Club (members came from all parts of the county, as well
as from London, to attend), and genuine enthusiasm was shown in the two schemes
which came under discussion. The arrangements for the meeting in the Museum,
the tea, etc., were very kindly undertaken by Mr. Durrant, to whom the best thanks
of the Club are due.
Deputation to the County Council, Monday, February 2nd, 1891.
By invitation, a deputation from the Club, consisting of Sir Henry Roscoe, M.P.,
F.R.S. (one of the authors of the Technical Instruction Act, 1889), Prof. W. H.,
Flower, C.B., F.R.S. (Director of the British Museum), Prof. Meldola, F.R.S.
(City Guilds Technical College), Prof. Boulger, F.G.S., Mr. F. W. Rudler, F.G.S.
(Director of the Museum of Practical Geology), and Mr, W. Cole, Hon. Sec.,
waited upon the Parliamentary Committee of the Essex County Council, at 35.
New Broad Street (Mr. E. N. Buxton, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee,
presiding), to advocate the central scheme of Technical Education in Essex, put
forward by the Council of the Essex Field Club. Lord Rayleigh, Secretary to
the Royal Society, was unavoidably prevented from being present. The speakers
strongly urged the claims of the Essex Field Club to bear some part in any work
for the promotion of scientific and technical instruction in the county, and bore
testimony to the high position the Club had attained by reason of its excellent
publications, and steady adhesion to one plan of work. They explained the broad
features of the Club's scheme (fully set out in the last volume of the ESSEX
Naturalist, vol. iv. pp. 259-62), and insisted on the great importance of
establishing a central institution, in addition to making any grants for local pur-
poses. The scheme would provide such a central body, and would send competent
teachers and lecturers, furnished with apparatus for practical class-teaching, into
the rural districts, thus bringing high-class instruction to the very doors of the
country and agricultural folk, and affording them advantages from the grant
almost equal to those possessed by the urban populations.
After answering some questions, and being assured by the Chairman that their
views would receive due consideration, the members of the deputation withdrew.
Ordinary Meeting, Saturday, February 28th, 1891.
The 122nd Ordinary Meeting was held in the Town Hall, Leyton, at 6.30,
Mr. E. A Fitch, President, in the chair.
The following were elected members of the Club : Messrs. Gerald Christy,
W. W. Duffield, A. C. Freeman, J. D. L. Lamarque, Norman Lott, H. B. Rowan,
Augustus A. Timbrell, C.C, and Mrs. M. E. Marsh.