PACIFIC RELATIONS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18901, 17 January 1927, Page 13

PACIFIC RELATIONS.

* —— NEW ZEALAND BRANCH. Following on the Conference held at Honolulu in the middle of last year and the visit to New Zealand of Mr J. Merle Davis, several well-attended meetings were held in Wellington and other centres, which have resulted in the forration of a New Zealand branch of the Institute of Pacific Relations. The object of the Institute is to consider contacts and conflicts, and to promote understanding and co-operation amongst the peoples living round the Pacific by means of study groups and a dispassionate presentation of their individual points of view on subjects affecting the whole of them.

Tho Hon. Sir James Allen, K.C.M.G., lias accepted the presidency of the branch iu New Zealand, and the vicepresidents are Sir George Elliot (chairman of the Bank of New Zealand), Sir Maui Pomare (member of the Government representing the Native Race), and the Hon. Mr Gow, M.L.C. At a meeting held in Wellington before Christmas, the following council was elected: Professor C. E. Hercus, ■Dr. H. E. Gibbs, Dr. Guy H. Scholefield. Miss N. E. Coad, Messrs D. S. Smith, C. S. Falconer, W. H. Coker, A. L. Cropp, Walter Nash, H. F. von Haast, J. D. Gray and Dr. Marsden.

Dr. Scholefield was elected hon. secretary, in place of Professor Condliffe, who left to take up the position of Research Director for the Institute, and Mr V. N. Beasley was appointed hon. treasurer. Steps were taken to enrol members and form study groups, of which, for the present, "there will be one at each of the four chief centres. The next International Conference of the Institute will be held in Honolulu from, July loth to 28th.