CHEMISTS' INTERESTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10273, 7 May 1919, Page 3

CHEMISTS' INTERESTS

CONFERENCE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY.

There teas a large attendance of delegates at the first annual conference of the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Society, which opened in the Chamber of Commerce last evening. The president, (Mr V. Castle) occupied the choir. , ' ■■■"

In his opening' remarks; the chairman referred to; the fact- that the chemists of the-Dominion had played a splendid part in the war. Ho knew of at least eighty members of the society who had answered the call —a very good record, considering that the total membership was about 600. 'At the last conference it had been decided to form divisions of the society in the different centres, the idea being that very little good could be done without organisation. In a number of districts divisions had actually been formed, and ho trusteed other districts would fall in lino for Iho general good of the profession. Mr Castle said that one of-l/he most important matters to be discussed at the conference was the establishment of a codo of ethics. This was a very big undertaking, but so long as- they did not aim too high they would accomplish something worth while. It often happened that chemists were not quite sure how to proceed, and the proposed codo' of ethics, if adopted, would help the profession in a way that would be good for the chemists and the general public. Th"e"ehasrmnfv also expressed a hope that "before very long something material would be done in the matter of establishing n school. of pharmacy. Matters .in connection with medicines and drugs were ever changing, - and it was absolutely essential .-'that -education should go on in order to keep up to date. Kduration was just as necossary as organisation, and it was the .bounden duty of all to see that both were foitered to the utmost.

It was decided, on .the motion of Hawke's>Briy. that the next conference be held at Napier.

Tho following remits wcro submitted by tin? Hawke's Bay Division:—'-That tho executive of the Xew Zealand Pharmaceutical Society shall do all in their power to have "the Pharmaceutical Society of Xew Zealand suitably represented on nil boards, such as those appointed under tho Social Hygiene Act, Public Ho-ilth Act, oto., this being of vital interest to pharmacy in general." '-That the. Cliemi*ts| Defence Association (Inecrp.) be <so linked up with tho activities of the division of the Pharmaceutical Society formed llirorghoiit Xew Zealand that members of divisions become automatically members of the Defence Association, involving one fixed annv..d subscription." The first motion was agreed to, and tho scco.id held over for the timo being.