PACIFIC RELATIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 929, 24 March 1930, Page 16

PACIFIC RELATIONS

ANNUAL MEETING HELD DATE OF NEXT CONFERENCE The annual meeting - of the New Zealand branch of the Institute of Pacific Relations, held in Wellington, was attended by Sir James Allen (president), Messrs. J. E. Strachan and G. Lawn (Canterbury), H. F. Yon Haast and T. B. H. Hall (Wellington), Professor Benson (Otago), Professor Belshaw (Auckland), Mr. W. Nash, M.P., Mr. AV. B. Matheson, Miss M. Seaton, and Br. Scholefield (hon. secretary). The president stated that the membership in the middle of 1929 was about 140. Group activities took the form of periodical meetings, at which papers were read and discussed. The Wellington group last year adopted with marked success the practice of meeting in the homes of members of the group. The conference in Japan threw a great deal of work on to the branch and groups in the preparation of data and in selecting and financing a delegation of adequate strength and standing to represent New Zealand in a worthy manner. Officers for the year were elected as follow: President, Sir James Allen; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. H. Cocker (Auckland), J. E. Strachan (Canterbury), Walter Nash, M.P. (Wellington); hon. treasurer, Mr. V. N. Beasley; research secretary, Professor Benson. PAID SECRETARY NEEDED The hon. secretary (Br. Scholefield) tendered his resignation, stating that he found the work now too onerous to carry on any longer. He sugegsted that the council would have to face the problem of a paid secretary. Members spoke eulogistically of the work done by Br. Scholefield during the past three and a-half years, and warmly urged him to continue. Eventually it ■was agreed that he should carry on until September 1, and that meanwhile a committee consisting of Mr. Von Haast, Mr. Matheson, Mr. Nash, and the hon. secretary should consider the best means of providing the necessary assistance and carrying on after that date. The date of the next conference, which is to be held in China, was discussed. The American group wrote strongly favouring 1931. It was eventually resolved that the New Zealand Council considered that the conference should be held in 1932, but not later than June in that year. It was resolved: “That the National Council notes with approval that the proposal to remove the headquarters of the institute from Honolulu was abandoned.” Br. Belshaw reported upon the proposal that the Auckland University College be entrusted with a research project into land utilisation and farm organisation in New Zealand, the research to be carried out under his supervision. The council expressed apsearch committee in instituting the inquiry and in selecting Br. Belshaw for the work. A proposal for the study of New Zealand tariffs, and the treatment of aliens in New Zealand, was referred to the research secretary, Professor Benson, with power to act.