Journal of Proceedings. xiii
from the public to form a fund for the effectual carrying out of the
above objects."
Mr. Cole said his object in bringing this resolution forward was to
prevent the pressure which took place on the occasion of their opposing
the recent scheme of the Great Eastern Railway Company. As the
members were aware, since the establishment of the Club they had found
it necessary to oppose three schemes which they thought, if carried out,
would be detrimental to the Forest. No organisation for opposing such
schemes being in existence, and the work having to be done in a very
short time, great pressure was felt by those who took the lead in the
work. He did not intend that this Committee should always be
"meddling and muddling" with questions relating to the Forest, but
should only take notice of important matters. Objection was taken by
some to the words "not necessarily entirely composed of members
thereof," and he had no wish to press that part of the resolution. He
was of opinion that the Committee should have power of action when
requested to move by the Council of the Club. As the work they had done
in the past had been of such general public importance, and as it had
apparently received the sanction and approval of everyone taking an
interest in the Forest, whether members of this Club or not, he thought
the Club should not be called upon to pay the whole of the expenses of
these oppositions, and therefore he felt that the Committee, if appointed,
should be empowered to receive subscriptions from the general public.
The opposition to the last railway scheme cost something like £30, a
small sum in itself, but large when they considered the slender income
of the Club. He did not intend that the Committee should go in for
legal fighting, in the way of instructing counsel, and so on, but merely
to keep the public well informed of what was taking place, and then he
thought they would get plenty of public support.
Mr. Meldola, in seconding the motion, said it seemed to him that in
the future they might be called upon to exert themselves on behalf of the
Forest, and therefore it was desirable that there should be an organised
Committee in existence ready to be called into action in case of any
emergency. He seconded the motion on the understanding that the
Committee should not act except in cases of great emergency, because he
did not think they ought to rush into print over every tree that was cut
down, or otherwise be indiscriminate in their action. He was pleased
to be able to state that the Club had been much popularised by its
opposition to the railway scheme. Scientific societies were now coming
to regard it as a kind of watch committee for ventilation of subjects
connected with the proper management of the Forest, in accordance with
the wishes of the majority of intelligent persons and the plain words of
the Act of Parliament.
Mr. Robarts opposed the motion on the ground that it would be very
undesirable that any Committee should include persons who were not
members of the Club. Then, if that portion of the resolution were