SCIENTISTS MEET

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 263, 27 January 1928, Page 16

SCIENTISTS MEET

N.Z. INSTITUTE GOVERNORS DR. J. A. THOMSON PRESIDENT Press Association. WELLINGTON, Thursday. Scientists from all parts of the Dominion gathered at Victoria University College to-day, when the board of governors of the New Zealand Institute held its annual meeting. The event of the year, said the president, Mr.' B. C. Aston, in his address, had been the issue of the transactions as a quarterly journal. The New Zealand Institute Act could be amended in several directions with great advantage to the working of the institute. At present they were compelled to hold their annual meeting in January, which often entailed inconvenience to members and to the staff, and meant that the financial reports of Auckland, the chief incorporated society, were nearly a year old when they were received. By arranging for the financial year to terminate on March 31 and holding the annual meeting in the university midwinter vacation, the position would be improved. Provision for the appointment of a vice-president, who should be eligible for -re-appointment year by year and who should be resident in Wellington also was necessary. This would enable the office of president to be distributed without regard to his place of residence, for the vice-president could act for him in Wellington. The section incorporating various societies required redrafting and the elimination of such bodies as were defunct. When opportunity offered Sir Frank Heath’s objection that medical and engineering societies were not adequately represented on the board should be met. OFFICERS ELECTED The Board of Governors elected the following officers: —President, Dr. J. Allan Thomson; hon. secretary, Mr. B. C. Aston; hon. treasurer, M. M. A. Elliott; hon. auditor, Mr. Johannes C. Andersen; hon. returning officer, Professor H. W. Segar; hon. librarian, Professor D. M. Y. Somerville; trustees, Messrs. B. C.’ Aston and M. A. Elliott. The balance-sheet for the year ending December 31 showed a debit balance of £6OB 0s 7d, as compared with a debit balance of £163 19s for the same period in 1926. The Hector Award for 1928 was left to the standing committee. It was decided that the next annual meeting should be held at Auckland and that a preliminary meeting shottld be held at Wellington.