INSTITUTE OF OPTICIANS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20962, 27 February 1930, Page 17

INSTITUTE OF OPTICIANS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The annual conference of delegates from tranches of the Institute of Opticians of New Zealand was opened in Dunedin yesterday. Mr E. H, Sargent, of Wellington, presided, and about 30 delegates were present. . The delegates present werd:- —Auckland —Messrs T. D. Peacock, G. E. Read, jun., and B. Irvine. Wellington—Messrs E. A. Sargent (president), R. Brooke-Taylor, H. S. Gilberd, T. G. Young, H. Spear, T. Xi. Cocks, J. P. Stouppe (secretary). Palmerston North—R. A. Noedl. Oamaru

—A.. B, Yeoman, W. Kinder. Tiraarn —T. . Young. Alexandra—H. White Christchurch—W. J. Watson, H. Read. N. Wright, B. Falck. R. Batstone. Dunedin—G. K. Neill, H. Neill, A. H.' Fairmaid, H. .Towns, W. Sturnier. Invercargill—J. D„ Gilmore. The Mayor (Mr R, S. Black), in extending a cordial welcome to the visitors spoke of the value of their services to the jjublic, and expressed the hope that tile ; conference, would benefit both the profession and the public generally. He wished to impress upon them the importance of avoiding parochialism, and of considering the country as a whole. Mr H. S. Fairmaid (president of the Otago and Southland Optical Association), in welcoming to Dunedin the delegates from all over' the Dominion, said that last year, when it was decided to hold the next conference in Dunedin, the members of the Otago and Southland Association hailed the news with delight “ During the 12 months, therefore,” continued the president, " it has been our lot to look-forward and prepare for this day. and it is with-feelings of no email pride and pleasure that the duty of bidding, you a very hearty welcome to Dunedin falls to my lot. Viewing the activities of" the 1.0.N.Z. over the last few years one cannot fail to be impressed with the good work which has been accomplished. It seems but yesterday that a small group of pioneers and enthusiasts in the profession gathered together and, formed the nucleus of our present splendid institute Our thanks are in no small measure due to those pioneers for instilling into the opticians throughout New Zealand the desire to co-operate and raise the standard of efficiency of optometry to its present plane, and the last, few years have been ones of vapid improvement. The. knowledge of what the T.O.N.Z. has done should be highly gratifying to you all. We are indeed particularly glad that Dunedin has been selected for this conference, as we feel that it. is to be one of much importance to the profession as a whole The Opticians Bill has become law, and as the doors ot the profession are now to all who cannot substantiate their claims to efficiency, we arc in a position to render more useful service to our patients than ever before, and the fact that I see present such a I’eproeeiitatiye_ gathering from all parts of the Dominion proves to me that you are not insensible to the greater responsibilities that belong to us, and I know that these responsibilities will be joyfully ehoulowed. It has been the aim of the Otago and Southland Optical Association to make your stay in Dunedin both profitable and. pleasurable, and on the educational side we have asked the executive to let us have more time than usual We ourselves feel that the nature of the addresses we have arranged will more than recompense you for listening to them, and will be a most profitable break in the busy session before you. The annual report and balance sheet were presented to (he conference by Mr R. Brook Taylor, "who advised that the membership at December 31 stood at 120. A .great deal of activity Lad been djsplayetl during the year in the interests of the institute, and the executivfe was very pleaded with the keenness shown by members’ throughout New Zealand. Early last year, a scheme was brought forward ei T?v? o^ t Hie Jubilee Institute for the Blind, collection boxes’being distributed to members throughout the Dominion- _ The examination was conducted in Wellington in November, 1029, 14 candidates_ sitting for the first division and seven in the second. This was the last examination that would be conducted by the institute, as, in future, examinations would be continued by the Opticians’ Board. The essay competition, which had to all members of the institute and the provincial associations, had been ]V on b y the Otago and Southland-Associa-tion. _The McKinney; Cup would therefore be retained in Dunedin during the next 12,months. The Opticians’ Board was now operating, having a very busy time scrutinising the applications for registration etc It was’ pleasing to note the very cordial relations existing between the institute and the board. _ Reports were read from the four proassociations dealing with the activities of 'these bodies throughout the 12 months. The reports indicated a very iive_interest in the profession, especially m the furthering of educational matters. Une of the outstanding features of the business was the insistence on the part of ttu* members to raise the standard of efficiency of opticians practising throughout the Dominion. They realised the necessity of giving close attention to educational matters, and thereby rendering to the. public an even better service than had been given in the past. The business discussed at the morning session turned particularly oh legislative matters and the operation of the New Zealand Opticians Act; 1928. There is no doubt that now the Act is in force it is recognised as a measure that has lone been wanted in New ' Zealand: for the protection of the public from unqualified men who brought about irreparable damage to patients' eyes; The opinion was expressed that the time is coming when clinics r will have to be opened for the training of students in optics. Suggestions were made from c ! n K? B a 8 t 0 &ow these could best be established, and it was decided that the matter be referred to the central (Wellington) executive, who working in conjunction with the members r Ca assoclatlon s. will formulate a i or th ®. education of stpdents entering the optical profession. day 6 con ' erence will be continued to-