In consideration of these vital points your Business Manager would suggest that the Association consider the possible reduction in the number of pages of each issue or the possibility of making the journal a quarterly, thus reducing the number of issues. We also urge the necessity for the Finance Committee that was appointed by the President at the last session, to share this burden with the Business Manager, and to take some definite steps whereby we can place the finances on a firm basis. (See special note at end of this report).
Some of our subscriber have suggested that since lower prices are in effect generally, we should reduce the subscription. This we would be very glad to do, but the cost of getting out the journal is actually greater than it was a year ago, since postage rates, both domestic and foreign, are being greatly increased, and the cost of printing remains at the same figure. It has been suggested by others that the price of the journal be increased to cover the additional expense, but since some of our subscribers have already been forced to discontinue because of financial pressure, increase in subscription cost would materially decrease the number of our subscribers, and what we might gain would be more than offset by our losses in subscriptions and advertising.
Some way must be found so that we can continue this great work. Your Business Manager has endeavored to interest homoeopathic laymen and physicians to form an endowment fund which would provide means for the furtherance of our work. He has tried to get some one to agree to furnish the equivalent of an endowment fund income until one of our endowments becomes available. So far we have not met with success, but we still hope that some individuals with means will see the great contribution that this journal brings to present-day homoeopathy, and that they will desire to continue its usefulness.
We have on our records unpaid subscriptions to the amount of Dollar 1,914.70, of which about Dollar 100 is the amount for The Homoeopathic Recorder unpaid by members of our Association. Unpaid subscriptions are always of questionable value, and while a large part of them probably will be collected, a certain percentage will of course never be paid. The unusual amount of unpaid subscriptions is partly due to the pressure on foreign subscribers, with the variable and very unfavourable exchange rates.
Domestic subscriptions due Dollar 1,110.00.
Foreign subscriptions due 804.70.
Unpaid adverting to date 236.25.
Total amount due May 31, 1932.
The Financial report of income and expenditures follows.
Respectfully submitted,.
H.A. ROBERTS, M.D.,.
Business Manager.
Special Note. At the 1932 Convention of the International Hahnemannian Association it was decided by vote, not only to maintain present standards of publication, but to definitely advance and develop our official journal in the interest of medical progress and public welfare.
