Presidential Address. g xxvii 



considerable uiimber of years ago, but no exceptional qualifications were 

 to be demanded. Nothing more was said on the subject until the year 

 1910, when I talked over the matter with many of my scientific friends, 

 all of whom agreed that the suggested Fellowship should be difficult of 

 attainment and so be a very high distinction indeed. My reasons for the 

 estabUshment of such an honour were — (1) that in other countries the 

 universities conferred honorary degrees on scientific workers, whereas the 

 University of New Zealand did not confer such, under the mistaken notion 

 that they would detract from the value of the ordinary degrees ; (2) that 

 there were certain men in New Zealand whose years of unremitting labour 

 in science would apparently never receive recognition ; (3) that the 

 establishment of a Fellowship worthy of being won would lead to that 

 competition which is a law of nature and brings out the best in every 

 sphere of life ; (4) that more research would be undertaken and the 

 number of those carrying out research increase, to the benefit of science. 

 Agairtst the proposal there was urged by some that there were the Hutton 

 and the Hector Medals, as also certain Empire distinctions available for 

 our best men. On the oth.er hand, the above medals are limited in their 

 application — some sciences do not receive recognition ; while, as to Empire 

 distinctions, so few come to New Zealand that they are almost negligible. 

 A.11 agrfeed that, in order to make the Fellowship sufficiently difiicult to 

 acquire, the number of Fellows must be limited to comparatively few. 

 The proposition was not taken up, and no more was said on the matter 

 until Dr. J. Allan Thomson brought out in January, 1917, an ambitious 

 scheme for reform of the Institute, containing, i^iter alia, a proposal for 

 the creation of Fellows. Dr. Thomson's proposals were referred to the 

 affiliated societies to consider, and at the succeeding meeting in January, 

 1918, their replies having been received, a committee consisting of 

 Mr. G. Hogben, Dr. Thomson, and myself was set up to draw up a Fellow- 

 ship scheme and refer it to the incorporated societies. We accordingly 

 considered the matter carefully, drew up a scheme, referred it to the 

 societies, made certain changes in our draft in conformity with their 

 suggestions, and brought our amended scheme before the Board of 

 Governors in January, 1919. Each clause was carefully discussed by the 

 Board, and, with a few alterations and additions, the scheme which we 

 submitted was adopted. The only point of importance which was rejected 

 was the proposal that a certain number of Fellows should be elected 

 " for eminent service to the nation in any capacity," but such Fellows 

 were not to " exceed one-tenth of the total number of Fellows." After 

 considerable discussion, this proposal was rejected ; but, as the regulations 

 stand, the Fellowship can be given for research or distinction in science — 

 i.e., it is possible for Fellows to be elected who have done no research 

 whatever. This gives a wide-enough door, so it "is unlikely that any one 

 really deserving the honour will be left in the cold. 



As for research, it must be clearly understood by the affiliated societies 

 and electors that this does not refer merely to research accomplished in 

 New Zealand. All research carried on outside New Zealand, even if 

 published long before the candidate was a member of the Institute, must 

 count as the present regvdations stand. 



Before leaving this question of the Fellowship, it cannot be too widely 

 known both by scientific men and the general public that the letters 

 " F.N. Z.Inst." attached to a person's name is no empty title, but that it 

 means far more than does the degree of Doctor of Science of any University, 



