The division of the members into sections, as was envisaged in the original constitution and as was carried out by certain sciences, came very much under criticism early in 1892, largely because of the so-called un-society attitude of Section G (literature and fine arts). Professor Baldwin Spencer was the leader in this reform move and, after stating that the Society was not large enough to be broken up in sections and that any such breaking up must weaken the Society as a whole, was successful in having the appropriate rules of the constitution rescinded. Thus ended a period in the developmental life of the Society which, in some ways, had served particular branches of science satisfactorily, but which, in others, had caused dissension and disunity among members.

The financial depression that occurred throughout Australia in the early 1890s was felt in the Royal Society as elsewhere. The reduction of the government grant from £500 to £250 in 1892 brought about the discontinuance of the Transactions of the Society, publication being limited to the Proceedings. This was greatly regretted by the council as by its members.

It is interesting to record that in 1892 the Society valued its assets for insurance purposes at £4,000, made up of building £2,650, furniture £350 and books £1,000.

1893 saw further marine work carried out by a member of the Society in co-operation with a government department. The necessary permission having been given to the secretary of the Customs department for a scientific representative to be present during the trawling operations of the Swansea off Lakes Entrance, Mr T. S. Hart was appointed representative of the Society, and financial assistance was given to the project. On his return, Mr Hart submitted details of his results in a paper to the Society.

Royal Society of Victoria