Royal Society

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 278, 24 November 1939, Page 3

Royal Society

MANAWATU BRANCH HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING There was a good attendance at the annual meeting on Wednesday night ot the Manawatu branch of the Koval Society of New Zealand. Mr. W. A. Jacques presided. In reviewing the activities of the 1939 session, the chairman said the year had been successful and the lectures had been well delivered and well attended. There had been a gratifying response to the modifications in the subjects introduced this year, and it appeared that fewer meetings with longer and not too technical papers and ample time for discussion were in demand. Financially, the year had been good, though there had been no effort to accumulate a large reserve fund. The society was indebted .to Drs. McMeekan, Keifer, Smith and Melville and Messrs Turner and Thomas, who so ably presented subjects that were instructive, interesting and provocative. Among them they covered a very wide field. The society was also indebted to the Theosophical Society for placing its hall at its disposal. Thanks were extended to the committee and especially the secretary-treasurer (Mr. S. J. Bennett) who had co-operated very willingly in the work of the year. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officers resulted: — President, Mr. S. J. Bennett; vice-presi-dent, Mr. W. A. Jacques; secretarytreasurer, Dr. J. Melville; general committee, Drs. W. M. fcsmith, F. W. Dry, H. 11. Whitehead, T. K. Vernon, C. R. Barnicoat, P. McMahon and Messrs W. B. King, K. Corkill and N. P. Grant; representative on national council, Mr. M. A. Eliott. The remainder of the evening was occupied by the exhibition of a series of scientific sound films and discussions on the problems presented. The films were “How Plants Live,” demonstrating under the microscope the life cycle of a Russell lupin; “Defences in the Body Against Disease,” a graphic physiological study; “Reproduction Among Mammals, ’ ’ and ‘ * Molecular Theory of Alatter, ” showing the behaviour of molecules under certain conditions. Votes of thauks were passed to Dr. Vernon and Mr. White for exhibiting the films and to Mr. E. Bary, s headmaster of the Central School, for lending the projector.