William J. Dyas

The half-yearly meeting of the Ontario College of Pharmacy was opened in the college buildings, Gerrard Street East, Toronto, on Tuesday, August 6th, at 3 o’clock p.m. There were present: Mr. John A. Clark, Hamilton; Mr. J. E. D’Avignon, Windsor; John J. Hall, Woodstock; G. S. Hobart, Kingston; Andrew Jeffrey, Toronto; L. T. Lawrence, London; John McKee, Peterboro’; J. H. Mackenzie, Toronto; C. H. McGregor, Brantford; A. B. Petrie, Guelph; J. W. Slaven, Orillia, and Henry Watters, Ottawa.

On the motion of Mr. John McKee, seconded by Mr. Andrew Jeffrey, the President, Mr. John A. Clark, Hamilton, was appointed Chairman.

The Chairman called upon Mr. Isaac T. Lewis who read the result of the election of members to the council and the number of ballots cast for each and the same was approved.

President Clark said that when he undertook the duties of president two years ago, he realized that it would be a task of considerable difficulty to discharge the duties to the satisfaction of the members of the Board. He hoped the meeting would not be characterised by any unpleasant feeling such as had been manifested in the late Council.

Nominations for Vice-President having been declared in order, Mr. J. E D’Avignon moved the appointment of Mr. W. B. Saunders, and Mr. C. H. McGregor moved Mr. J. Hall. Mr. Hall was elected, only one ballot being cast for Mr. Saunders who was not present.

The Vice-President, in the course of a brief speech, expressed the reluctance he felt in opposing Mr. Hall. He would reserve his reasons for doing so until Mr. Saunders was present. It was necessary in giving effect to the new act that men who held office before should be identified with the Council. He would do his best to secure for the college any of the benefits obtained from the act.

On the motion of Mr. J. H. Mackenzie, seconded by Mr. L. T. Lawrence, Mr. Isaac T. Lewis was re-elected Treasurer and Registrar for the next two years.

The Chairman stated that the auditor, Mr. Daniels was away in England, and that it would be necessary to appoint another for the unexpired term. On the motion of Mr. J. H. Mackenzie, seconded by Mr. J. McKee, Mr. W. A. Hargreaves appointed for the unexpired term.

Mr. H. Watters, seconded by Mr. John McKee, moved that a committee consisting of Messrs Slaven, Hall, Jeffrey and the mover and seconder be appointed to strike standing committees.

Mr. C. H. McGregor, seconded by Mr. J. J. Hall, moved as an amendment that Messrs. Hobart, Watters, Petrie, Mackenzie and McGregor receive the appointment. The amendment was lost by eight votes to four.

Mr. D’Avignon moved the adoption of the minutes as printed in the Pharmaceutical Journal for February.

The Chairman—I object to that, as part of them recorded there not true. I refer to page 117 of the journal where it says: “The President rose to a question of privilege referred to some statements made in the World with regard to his connection with the Pearen matter.” I object to the manner in which that is put in.

Mr. Lewis, Registrar, at the President’s request, read the minutes as recorded in the minute book as follows:

“The President arose to speak on a matter of privilege, and explained to the council the action he had taken in the matter of the attempt at alteration of the Register of Apprentices by J. M. Pearen, and read to the Council the letter in the World of February 8th, and claimed the statements therein were not in accord with the facts, and he thought it was due to him that the Council should not allow them to be uncontradicted.”

Mr. Davidson—Then I infer that the report in the Journal with that exception is correct?

The Chairman—As far as I know.

Mr. D’Avignon, seconded by Mr. Watters, moved that the minutes of last meeting of the Council be accepted as read, the inference being that they were read from the minutes and not from the Journal.

This was agreed to unanimously.

The Committee on Standing Committees reported as follows:—

Executive and Finance—Mackenzie, Petrie, Slaven, Hall, Hobart.

Education—Jeffrey, D’Avignon, Watters, Petrie, Slaven.

By-laws and Legislation—Hall, Hobart, D’Avignon, McKee, Lawrence.

Infringements—Mackenzie, Watters, Hobart, Lawrence and Saunders.

Mr. Mackenzie thought the whole Council should act on such an important branch as the Infringement Committee, but Mr. Watters pointed out that this was contrary to the constitution, which limited the number to five.

Mr. Hall and Mr. Hobart seemed to favour the amendment of Mr. Mackenzie, stating that it was difficult to cover the districts in any other way without the appointment of a private prosecutor or detective.

Mr. Jeffrey thought the Council should not undertake such work.

The President sustained the by-law, and ruled Mr. Mackenzie’s motion out of order.

On the motion of Mr. Watters, seconded by Mr. Hall, the motion to approve of the committees was carried unanimously.

The council then heard communications, accounts, notices of motion, educational committee’s report, special committee’s report, regulations for examiners and applications from apprentices, after which they adjourned till Wednesday, at 10 o’clock, a.m., the business of considering the reports being referred to the various committees.

Wednesday Morning.

The Council met at 10 o’clock, President John A. Clark in the chair.

The Chairman read some correspondence he had with Mr. E. R. Beckwith, Secretary of the State Board of Pharmacy, at Petersburg, Virginia. He (the Chairman) remarked that there had been a difference of opinion in the Council regarding the Pharmacy laws. The desire of the writer was that those who passed the examinations before competent Boards could pass into and practise in any other State without re-examination, and that the certificate of the Secretary should suffice. Seventy-five per cent of marks were suggested as requisite. It was proposed to call a convention of State delegates to arrange the matter, and that the vote of two-thirds of those so assembled should be sufficient to give power to act. He (the Chairman) wrote Mr. Beckwith on June 13, giving him the names of colleges with whom the Ontario College interchanged certificates, namely: the Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Massachusetts and California Colleges, and with the Board of Pharmacy of the City and County of New York. As regards the scheme of interchange so far, the States reported as follows: Delaware considered unadvisable; Tennessee, yes; Nebraska does not favor; Pennsylvania, undesirable; North Carolina, yes; Michigan and Minnesota, yes.

Mr. A. B. Petrie said that in many of the State Boards four or five men met together and granted diplomas, while many of the colleges were private enterprises. While the Ontario College was desirous to raise the standard, a step of this kind might be injurious if not dangerous.

Mr. G. S. Hobart thought it would prove a benefit to go into the arrangement as more young men crossed into the United States to practise than came from the United States to this country.

On the motion of Mr. Andrew Jeffrey, seconded by Mr. H. Watters, the following resolution was put and carried:

“That the communication of E. B. Beckwith, of Petersburg, Virginia, referring to the holding of a convention of State and other Boards of Pharmacy, be received, and the President of the Council be instructed to watch the proceedings, and if he deems it in the interest of the College he is hereby empowered to attend such convention.”

Mr. Lewis read the Registrar and Treasurer’s report as follows:—

On the motion of Mr. John McKee, seconded by Mr. J. H. Mackenzie, the reports were received and referred to the Executive Committee.

On the motion of Mr. J. E. D’Avignon, seconded by Mr. H. Watters, a committee, consisting of Messrs. Jeffrey and Mackenzie, were instructed to take an inventory of the books and other belongings of the club, with a view to insurance, which the Chairman remarked should be done without delay.

On the motion of Mr. J. J. Hall, seconded by Mr. A. B. Petrie, the Registrar was instructed to have a circular addressed to each man doing business in the Province as a pharmaceutical chemist, inviting him to comply with clause 10, sub-section 1 of section 31, being the recent amendment to the Pharmacy Act passed March last.

Several members thought copies of the whole Act should be sent.

The resolution was passed.

The Chairman suggested that a solicitor should be consulted in the case of E. M. Pearen who had been asked to be present that day at eleven, but did not appear.

Mr. D’Avignon alleged that the charge against Mr. Pearen was alleged forgery, and if that was so, that he should be prosecuted. The fact that the register of apprentices had been altered would interfere with their proper registration as druggists afterwards.

Mr. H. Watters—The question is, can we prove it?

The chairman said he concurred with Mr. D’Avignon when he said that a lawyer should be consulted.

Mr Lewis was reluctant to tell the Council the exact facts, but said he would inform a lawyer of the whole matter. He felt more annoyed that he had been beaten, so to speak, by Mr. Pearen than from any other cause.

On the motion of Mr. H. Watters, seconded by Mr. J. E. D’Avignon, the mover, with Messrs. Petrie and Lewis, were appointed to consult a solicitor and report.

Mr. J. M. McKee moved, and J. W. Slaven seconded the following resolution:—

The mover pointed out that when the school first commenced the amount received by the teachers was only $108. It had been gradually increasing, and although not doubting the ability of the teachers he thought each one only had a right to be paid for what he did. He did not know, however, where they could find another college making so much profit. Last year there had been a profit of $1,388, which the matriculation fees had brought up to $1,600. It was a question whether they could do so with reduced salaries. A cheaper staff might spread an influence against the college.

Mr. A. B. Petrie said that in Philadelphia the scholars were certainly attracted by the prestige of the professors, but in Canada they were obliged to come to the college in any case.

Mr. J. E. D’Avignon pointed out that no one was obliged to come until after the Act had been passed this year.

Mr. J. W. Slaven pointed out that the institution was now $14,000 in debt.

The resolution was carried and the Council adjourned at noon.

Wednesday Afternoon.

The Council met at 3.25, Mr. John A. Clark in the chair.

Mr. Watters reported that along with Mr. Petrie he had been to the office of Messrs. Edgar & Malone, barristers, and saw the former regarding the case of Mr. Pearen. Mr. Edgar thought the correction made in the books was necessary in the interests of the young men.

Mr. Watters, therefore, seconded by Mr. Petrie, moved the following resolution:

A communication from Messrs. Edgar and Malone, barristers, was filed along with the resolution stating that in the action of Mr. Pearen, in regard to the apprenticeship of Mr. John A. Dunbar, there was no evidence to sustain an action against him under the Pharmacy Act, and further, that such being the case, no action could be taken under Section 20, looking to have his name erased from the register, and that the firm thought it unwise to press matters against Mr. Pearen.

The resolution was carried.

Mr. A. D. Weeks, chemist, Uxbridge, handed in a letter and an application on behalf of Mr. T. C. Nicholls, B.A., Uxbridge, claiming clemency of the O.C.P. The Chairman, after Mr. Weeks had been heard, told him that as was usual in such cases, the application would be considered by a committee.

An application from John J. Watson, for time served in Hazelton was then lodged and also remitted to the committee.

The following notice of motion was made: Moved by Mr. John J. Hall, seconded by Mr. L. T. Lawrence,—

Mr. Slaven moved, and Mr. McKenzie seconded,—

H. W. Watters moved, Wm. Lawrence seconded, the following resolution:—

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