THE HUTTON AWARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 194, 16 July 1935, Page 2

THE HUTTON AWARD

PRESENTED TO DR. CUNNINGHAM. “JEALOUSLY - GUARDED * HONOUR.” Several weeks ago the announcement was made tliat a signal honour had l>een conferred on Dr. G. H. Cunningham, D.Sc., Ph.D., of the Plant Research Station, Palmerston North, by the award by the Royal Society of New Zealand of the Hutton Memorial Medal for his valuable research work into New Zealand fungi. Last evening, at the meeting of the Manawatu branch of the society, the presentation of the award was made to Dr. Cunningham by Rt. Rev. H. AV. AVilliams, Bishop of AVaiapu, the president of the New Zealand Society, who journeyed to Palmerston .North specially to perform this, his first ceremony since his election to the presidency. There was an excellent attendance to witness the presentation. “ The chair was occupied by Mr M. A. Eliott, the president of the brancli, who stated that it was gratifying to see so many, visitors. He extended a particular welcome to Bishop Williams, whose position, he stated, was an honour and a’ benefit to the society. Not only as a churchman, but a gentleman will versed in scientific matters, was he known throughout the Dominion. Bishop Williams congratulated the branch on its recovery from its “rather lengthy ' period of hibernation.” He hoped the assembly was an augury for a long period of activity. The practical side of the society's work was often lost sight of, and had been in the past, especially when the name Philosophical Society had been used. Pie was even afraid that the Government erred in losing sight of the practical side—it was thought there was no practical application to the well-being of the country. He would endeavour to secure a change during his term of office. Bishop Willi«ms said he had known Captain Hutton (after whom the award is named) as a pupil at Canterbury ■ College in a botany class and he had not known a man with a greater capacity for making Ins subjoct interesting. Of outstanding ability, he had a world-wide reputation in the 70’s. Bishop AVilliams was proud that his first official act was the bestowing of the award on Dr Cunningham. He did not need to sing Dr. Cunningham’s praises, tor “good wine needs no bush. the man in the street regarded him probably. as one who foraged lor a fresh fungus to harass the fruit farmer, but 1 laving done this he had found a cuie for the fungus as well. Dr Cunningham asked the Bishop to convey to the New Zealand Council his appreciation of the honour accorded him in the presentation of the medal. The award of the Plutton Bionze Medal was established in 1908 with the provision that it be bestowed at intervals of not more than three years lor research having a distinct bcai ing on New Zealand zoology, botany a)' d geology. It was first awarded in 1911 to Professor AV. B. Benliam, D.Sc., E R.S (University of Otago) for Ins work on New Zealand zoology, and next in 1914 to the late Dr L. Cockayne F.L.S., F.R.S., for work on New Zealand botany. In 1917 the award ivas made to Professor P. Marshall, M.A., D.Sc. (Scientific and Industrial .Research Department) for his research into New Zealand geology. Dr Cunningham, who was previously .in the biological laboratory of the Department of Agriculture at AVellington, has been mycologist at the Plant Research Station since it was established in Palmerston North in 1928, and under his direction some very valuable work in various phases of research has been done. He represented New Zealand at the Imperial Mycological Conference in England some years ago, and in 1934 visited Australia as an expert adviser to the New Zealand Government during the fruit embargo negotiations.