394 Report of the Association of Applied Biologists

Report of the Honorary Treasurer for the year ending 3 1 December 1980

As described in the previous Report. due to the conflict between increases in the Annals of Applied Riolog~~ subscription charges against possible loss of subscriptions during a period of recession. the price of the Annals in 1980. set in May 1979. was too low. Consequently with continuing increases in production and labour costs. the Annals account was in deficit in 1980. The increase in Annals sales receipts reflects the small rise in price from f48 to €52. whilst that of Parts and Back Issues relates to late subscriptions for 1979. Interest in Separates continued to decline and is reflected in sales, but the price chareed failed to take fully into account increased costs. particularly in postage charges. The main chanpes in .4 nrrnls expenditure were the increased printing charges. though these also include the costs of producing Tesis qf Agrochernicals and Czrlriwrs No. 1 as a supplement to the Aiinals and for which. as a promotional exercise. no charges were made to subscribers. The other main item of expenditure -:as Carriage and Postal charges which increased by 55% and which could not be forecast when the subscription price was set. Subscriptions to the A rrrials show a slow decline. and with the current recession becarning established world-wide. the trend will continue. In view of the likely deficit the subscription price For the Annals in 1981 was increased to E68 ( f 7 5 with TAC) which accounts for the increase in Prepaid Receipts in the Balance Sheet.

Sales of the Descriptions O f P l a n / Vbuses continued the improvement shown in 1979. though those of back issues were slightly less. This publication has now obtained international recognition and demand Lvill probably continue to expand slowly. Production costs are being held down and Council has decided that the pricz should also be retained so long as a reasonable surplus continues.

Income from Members' subscriptions declined. mainly due to the non-payment for 1980 by over 100 members. The main source of income was that from Investment Income and Bank Interest which increased by 49%. This was entirely due to the Association having sufficient funds to make short-term bank deposits and take advantage of the high interest rates which prevailed. As interest rates decline. so \vill income from this source. With the increase and proliferation of meetings of the Association and the extension of our Office at Wellesbourne. all receipts for meetings are paid directly into deposit accounts and expenses from the Treasurer's account. rather than the finances of individual meetings beirig conducted locally and only the surpluses (deficits) being shown in the accounts. This gradual change i n o u r methods accounts fo r the increase in meetings income. expenditure on Printing and Refreshments and Hire of Rooms. The increase in Secretarial Fees reflects increases in salaries and charge5 to the Association for secretarial help which can no longer be passed on to employers. The fall in expenditure on Visiting Speakers' Expenses is attributable to the costs involved in the 1973 75th Anniversary Meeting.

The cost of membership activities during the year was €22 378. against which the Membership Subscriptions contributed approximately half. the remainder being covered by income from investments. Whilc this is reasonable for this year. with lower interest rates and consequent decreasing income from invcitments. your Council has snbsequently decided that the Membership Subscription be increased in 1982 to €12.50 per annum.

MI. F. H. Jacob retires in 1981 having served the Association as Assistant Treasurer for the past twelve years. The Treasurer wishes to acknowledge the unstinting support and guidance he has received.