POINTS FOR OPTICIANS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 February 1935, Page 2

POINTS FOR OPTICIANS

NATIONAL VIEWPOINT EYES OF THE PEOPLE Two important points which opticians were urged to keep in view were placed before the annual conference of tlie Institute of Opticians of New Zealand at Wellington yesterday (reports “The Post”). The Minister of Health (the Hon. Sir Alexander Young) said that opticians would do well to safeguard their profession with a- high ethical code, and the president of the society, Mr E. A. Sargent, said members should regard matters from a broad national viewpoint. The conference is being held at the Hotel St. George. “Parliament has been most generous in the measure of protection it has given to opticians by law. Apart from registered medical practitioners, registered opticians have the exclusive right of measuring the errors of refraction of the human eye and of prescribing and adapting lenses to correct such errors,” said Sir Alexander Young. The Minister remarked that there were now the names of 271 opticians on the register of the institute. He thanked the members of the Opticians Board for their wise administration of the Opticians Act. The young man or woman desiring to qualify as a registered optician, remarked the Minister, must undergo an intensive training and study period of at least three years, and, in many eases, longer, With such measures of protection, he said, opticians would do well to safeguard their profession with a high ethical code, and by assuring to the public the very best possible service at a reasonable fee. Those present would doubtless be aware of recent developments in Great Britain which tended to restrict tlie optician to the mechanical branch of his work, and that further empliasised the importance of what he was saying. In the Amendment Act passed last year power was taken to make regulations for the control of all forms of advertising. Such regulations had not yet been issued, and, personally, be was somewhat loath to consider the .ssuo of such regulations. Tt would be much more satisfactory to the Government if tlie opticians could agree among themselves as to the forms of advertising which were in keeping with professional standards. He would be pleased to co-operate with the in stitute and the Opticians Board in regard to matters relating to the progress of the profession.

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

In the course of his presidential address, Mr Sargent said that one 'of the most important matters affectiug members of the institute was the passing of legislation last year giving the Opticians Board power to draw up regulations in regard to the advertising of registered opticians. Such regulations would do a lot towards eliminating misleading and flamboyant advertisements which did much harm both to the individual optician and tq the profession as a whole. There were certain proper methods of making known to the public the facts relative to the safeguarding of good vision. Reference was made to the Centenary conference of opticians recently held in Melbourne, which was attended by two members of the New Zealand Institute. The delegates also attended meetings of associations in New South Wales. These gatherings made them realise how necessary it was for all members of the profession to see to it that while making for a betterment of tlieir work along the lines of a higher standard, they must not forget that they were first and foremost refractionists, and must not attempt to pose as anything else. The circle of their work was well defined, and there was plenty oi room in that circle to improve their standard without encroaching into other fields. In conclusion, Mr Sargent urged members to regard matters from a broad national viewpoint. It was in that spirit that they could hope to meet all their difficulties and hold the position they had attained in giving the highest service in the interest of the eyesight, of the people of this country. The conference will continue until Thursday.