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s part he would be very sorry if they did not have one this year。 Last year they had four brakes； and they went to Tubberton Village。
It was true that there was nothing much to see at Tubberton； but there was one thing they could rely on getting there that they could not be sure of getting for the same money anywhere else； and that was … a good feed。 （Applause。） Just for the sake of getting on with the business； he would propose that they decide to go to Tubberton； and that a committee be appointed to make arrangements … about the dinner … with the landlord of the Queen Elizabeth's Head at that place。
Philpot seconded the motion； and Payne was about to call for a show of hands when Harlow rose to a point of order。 It appeared to him that they were getting on a bit too fast。 The proper way to do this business was first to take the feeling of the meeting as to whether they wished to have a Beano at all； and then； if the meeting was in favour of it； they could decide where they were to go； and whether they would have a whole day or only half a day。
The Semi…drunk said that he didn't care a dreadful expression where they went： he was willing to abide by the decision of the majority。 （Applause。） It was a matter of indifference to him whether they had a day； or half a day； or two days； he was agreeable to anything。
Easton suggested that a special saloon carriage might be engaged； and they could go and visit Madame Tussaud's Waxworks。 He had never been to that place and had often wished to see it。 But Philpot objected that if they went there； Madame Tussaud's might be unwilling to let them out again。
Bundy endorsed the remarks that had fallen from Crass with reference to Tubberton。 He did not care where they went； they would never get such a good spread for the money as they did last year at the Queen Elizabeth。 （Cheers。）
The chairman said that。 he remembered the last Beano very well。 They had half a day … left off work on Saturday at twelve instead of one … so there was only one hour's wages lost … they went home； had a wash and changed their clothes； and got up to the Cricketers； where the brakes was waiting； at one。 Then they had the two hours' drive to Tubberton； stopping on the way for drinks at the Blue Lion； the Warrior's Head； the Bird in Hand； the Dewdrop Inn and the World Turned Upside Down。 （Applause。） They arrived at the Queen Elizabeth at three…thirty； and the dinner was ready； and it was one of the finest blow…outs he had ever had。 （Hear； hear。） There was soup； vegetables； roast beef； roast mutton； lamb and mint sauce； plum duff； Yorkshire； and a lot more。 The landlord of the Elizabeth kept as good a drop of beer as anyone could wish to drink； and as for the teetotallers； they could have tea； coffee or ginger beer。
Having thus made another start； Payne found it very difficult to leave off； and was proceeding to relate further details of the last Beano when Harlow again rose up from his heap of shavings and said he wished to call the chairman to order。 （Hear； hear。） What the hell was the use of all this discussion before they h&d even decided to have a Beano at all！ Was the meeting in favour of a Beano or not？ That was the question。
A prolonged and awkward silence followed。 Everyone was very uncomfortable； looking stolidly on the ground or staring straight in front of them。
At last Easton broke the silence by suggesting that it would not be a bad plan if someone was to make a motion that a Beano be held。 This was greeted with a general murmur of ‘Hear； hear；' followed by another awkward pause； and then the chairman asked Easton if he would move a resolution to that effect。 After some hesitation； Easton agreed； and formally moved： ‘That this meeting is in favour of a Beano。'
The Semi…drunk said that； in order to get on with the business； he would second the resolution。 But meantime； several arguments had broken out between the advocates of different places； and several men began to relate anecdotes of previous Beanos。 Nearly everyone was speaking at once and it was some time before the chairman was able to put the resolution。 Finding it impossible to make his voice heard above the uproar； he began to hammer on the bench with a wooden mallet； and to shout requests for order； but this only served to increase the din。 Some of them looked at him curiously and wondered what was the matter with him； but the majority were so interested in their own arguments that they did not notice him at all。
Whilst the chairman was trying to get the attention of the meeting in order to put the question； Bundy had become involved in an argument with several of the new hands who claimed to know of an even better place than the Queen Elizabeth； a pub called ‘The New Found Out'； at Mirkfield； a few miles further on than Tubberton； and another individual joined in the dispute； alleging that a house called ‘The Three Loggerheads' at Slushton…cum…Dryditch was the finest place for a Beano within a hundred miles of Mugsborough。 He went there last year with Pushem and Driver's crowd； and they had roast beef； goose； jam tarts； mince pies； sardines； blancmange； calves' feet jelly and one pint for each man was included in the cost of the dinner。 In the middle of the discussion； they noticed that most of the others were holding up their hands； so to show there was no ill feeling they held up theirs also and then the chairman declared it was carried unanimously。
Bundy said he would like to ask the chairman to read out the resolution which had just been passed； as he had not caught the words。
The chairman replied that there was no written resolution。 The motion was just to express the feeling of this meeting as to whether there was to be an outing or not。
Bundy said he was only asking a civil question； a point of information： all he wanted to know was； what was the terms of the resolution？ Was they in favour of the Beano or not？
The chairman responded that the meeting was unanimously in favour。 （Applause。）
Harlow said that the next thing to be done was to decide upon the date。 Crass suggested the last Saturday in August。 That would give them plenty of time to pay in。
Sawkins asked whether it was proposed to have a day or only half a day。 He himself was in favour of the whole day。 It would only mean losing a morning's work。 It was hardly worth going at all if they only had half the day。
The Semi…drunk remarked that he had just thought of a very good place to go if they decided to have a change。 Three years ago he was working for Dauber and Botchit and they went to ‘The First In and the Last Out' at Bashford。 It was a very small place； but there was a field where you could have a game of cricket or football； and the dinner was A1 at Lloyds。 There was also a skittle alley attached to the pub and no charge was made for the use of it。 There was a bit of a river there； and one of the chaps got so drunk that he went orf his onion and jumped into the water； and when they got him out the village policeman locked him up； and the next day he was took before the beak and fined two pounds or a month's hard labour for trying to commit suicide。
Easton pointed out that there was another way to look at it： supposing they decided to have the Beano； he supposed it would come to about six shillings a head。 If they had it at the end of August and started paying in now； say a tanner a week； they would have plenty of time to make up the amount； but supposing the work fell off and some of them got the push？
Crass said that in that case a man could either have his money back or he could leave it； and continue his payments even if he were working for some other firm； the fact that he was off from Rushton's would not prevent him from going to the Beano。
Harlow proposed that they decide to go to the Queen Elizabeth the same as last year； and that they have half a day。
Philpot said that； in order to get on with the business； he would second the resolution。
Bundy suggested … as an amendment …。 that it should be a whole day； starting from the Cricketers at nine in the morning； and Sawkins said that； in order to get on with the business； he would second the amendment。
One of the new hands said he wished to move another amendment。 He proposed to strike out the Queen Elizabeth and substitute the Three Loggerheads。
The Chairman … after a pause … inquired if there were any seconder to this； and the Semi…drunk said that； although he did not care much where they went； still； to get on with the business； he would second the amendment； although for his own part he would prefer to go to the ‘First In and Last Out' at Bashford。
The new hand offered to withdraw his suggestion re the Three Loggerheads in favour of the Semi…drunks proposition； but the latter said it didn't matter； it could go as it was。
As it was getting rather late； several men went home； and cries of ‘Put the question' began to be heard on all sides； the chairman accordingly was proceeding to put Harlow's proposition when the new hand interrupted him by pointing out that it was his duty as chairman to put the amendments first。 This produced another long discussion； in the course of which a very tall； thin man who had a har