ROYAL SOCIETY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 151, 27 May 1938, Page 9

ROYAL SOCIETY

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS: QUESTION OF ALTERATION. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 26. The question of whether the time had not now arrived for the Royal Society of New Zealand to alter the original statement of its objects was raised at the annual meeting of the society at Victoria University College to-day, by Professor W. P. Evans, in liis presidential address. The objects as set out in the preamble to the original Act of 1867, were “by means of lecture classes and otherwise to promote the general study and cultivation of the various branches and departments of art, science, literature and philosophy.” That statement was no doubt eminently suited to its day, said Professor Evans, but he thought the society should follow more closely in the steps of other bodies bearing the honourable title Royal Society, especially the oldest and most illustrious, the Royal Society of London, by restricting itself to the sciences.

The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year resulted: President, Professor W. P. Evans. Wellington; vicepresident, Dr P. Marshall (Wellington) ; treasurer, Mr M. A. Eliott (Palmerston North); lion, editor, Dr John Marwick; Wellington, hon. librarian, Professor I. H. B. Kirk; coopted member, Dr P. Marshall; managers of trust accounts, Messrs M. A. Eliott and B. C. Aston; representative on the Now Zealand Institute of Horticulture, Dr W. R. B. Oliver; representative on the observatories’ committee, Professor D. C. H. Floranco and Professor P. W. Burbidge; representative on Great Barrier Reef committee, Dr W. R. B. Oliver; Hector award committee (geology), Dr P. Marshall, Professor R. Speight, Professor C. A. Cotton, Professor W. N. Benson, Dr J. Marwick; finance committee, Messrs M. A. Eliott and B. C. Aston and Dr E. Marsden; library' committee,' Professor H. B. Kirk, Professor Q. A. Cotton, Dr'E. Kidson, Dr W. R. B. Oliver; fellowship selection committee, Professor H. B. Kirk, Mr B. C. Aston. Dr J. Henderson, Professor W. P. Evans and Mr G. Arcliey; wild life control committee, Messrs B. C. Aston, E. F. Stead, G. Arehey, R. A. Falla and Professor W. P. Evans.

The question, of the venue and date of the next New Zealand Science Congress was briefly discussed. It was reported tjiat Otago favoured holding the congress in 1938 or 1939.. Christchurch was prepared to hold it. there in 1939, and Auckland and Wellington suggested 1940. A motion that the congress be held in Wellington in May, 1940, was carried by v one vote against an amendment in favour of tlie Christchurch in May, 1939, It was subsequently decided to authorise the standing committee to accept May, 1939, as tlie date if the Wellington Philosophical' Society was willing that tlie conference should be held on tlie earlier date.