CONFERENCE OF CHEMISTS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26198, 23 August 1950, Page 9

CONFERENCE OF CHEMISTS

OFFICIAL OPENING ‘‘l ask you to remember that you are really adding to a chain: each of the links must be able to bear the strain put on it,” said Dr. W. P. Evans, Professor Emeritus of Canterbury University College, and first president of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry, when he opened the 1950 conference of the institute and the New Zealand sec-

tion of the Royal Institute of Chemistry at Canterbury College yesterday. “Take the advice of an old man and take your time about it,” Dr. Evans said. “Its success is entirely in your han s.”

The Mayor (Sir Ernest Andrews) told delegates that Christchurch extended a warm and cordial welcome to them. The work of the conference had a wide application and delegates had more than their own interests at heart, he said. “ChemMrv has done marvels in the last decade or two, and I hope that research will go on to the benefit o e ’■rankind, not to its destruction.”

Other speakers were the chairman of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (Mr S. R. Siemon), the Dominion President (Dr. J. Melville), and the president of the New Zealand section of the Royal Institute of Chemistrv (Dr. C. R. Barnicoat). The chairman of the conference committee (Professor J. Packer) presided.

Two sessions were held in the afternoon. Dr. M. M. Burns presided at a session on agricultural chemistry, at which papers were given by Mr B. L. Elphick (Canterbury Agricultural College). Dr. E. B. Davies, and Mr F. D. Dorofaeff (Rukuhia Soil Research Station), Mr W. B. Healy (Soil Bureau), and Dr. H. O. Askew (Cawthron Institute). Dr. C. J. Wilkins was the chairman at the session on physical and structural chemistry, and papers were presented by Dr. H. N. Parton (Canterbury University College), Mr A. J. Beckwith (Canterbury College), Mr M. T, Christensen (Canterbury College), and Mr J. Rogers (School of Mines).

Dr. Melvjlle presented his presidential address on “Some Aspects of Photosynthesis” in the evening.