PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 3 



Laseron, Carl F., Technological Museum, Sydne}': wounded 

 at Gallipoli. 



Stokes, Edward S., M.B., Ch.M., returned after service abi'oad: 

 now P.M.O. 



Sir Douglas Mawson is on the eve of leaving for England to 

 enter upon military service. Dr. R. Broom, a Corresponding 

 Member, has joined the Army Medical Service; but whether in 

 South Africa or in Europe is not known to us. 



If, as individuals, we are in need of further provocation to 

 seriousness, we may surely find it in the departure of Professor 

 David for the front with the Mining Battalion. We may well 

 be impressed by his earnestness and self-sacrificing action in a 

 great crisis; and be led to appreciate the example which he has 

 set. » 



It was something more than a mere formality that, at a Special 

 General Meeting held on 30th June, 1915, on the motion of the 

 Hon. Treasurer, it was heartily and unanimously resolved "That 

 the Annual Subscriptions of all Ordinary Members of the Society 

 serving with the Australian Expeditionary Forces be remitted 

 during their term of service." 



Considering the unfavourable and depressing conditions en- 

 tailed by the continuance of the war, the Society's progress 

 during the past year may be regarded as satisfactory. 



The full effect of the war on our exchange-relations with 

 European Scientific Societies and Institutions is now realisable. 

 For the Session 1914-15, the total number of donations and 

 exchanges received amounts to 1028 additions to the library, as 

 compared with 1166 for 1913-14 (five months of which were war- 

 months), and 1285 for 1912-13, before the war. The significance 

 of the shortage is, that our communications with ovei' forty 

 Societies, from which, under normal conditions, we hear at least 

 once during the year, have been completely suspended. In some 

 cases, we have received official notification that, in consequence 

 of the disturbance of mails or other means of transmission, it has 

 been deemed advisable to keep back despatches for the present. 



The fortieth volume of the Proceedings for 1915 (896 pp., and 



