YJ^ PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 



The following new members were proposed by Mr. H. 

 C. Richards, M.Sc. :— A. W. Oakes, B.A., S. G. Lusby, 

 M.A., H. G. Denham, D.Sc, and P. P. Fewings, Esq. 



The President then delivered his Retiring Address. 



PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



National Waste. 



It is only six years since I previously had the honour 

 of presiding over the deliberations of our Society, and I 

 then took for the subject of my address, one in which we 

 all have long taken a considerable interest — Education. 

 I then called attention to the pressing necessity for the 

 influence of a University on our national life, and we are 

 now in the happy position of having achieved our hearts' 

 desire in that direction, and to-night the Royal Society 

 meets for the first time within the University Building. 

 It is true that it is but an infant among Universities, but 

 it is an infant whose growth has already seriously 

 embarrassed its parents. The baby has completely out- 

 grown its clothes, and judging by this remarkable growth 

 and the preparations proposed for its further expansion, 

 it is croing to grow much more quickly than provision 

 has been made for clothing it. And where the money is 

 to come from to feed it as it grows, is already a pressing 

 question, and one that has to be looked at from two differ- 

 ent standpoints— that of the young Queenslanders demand- 

 ing a first class up-to-date education such as will fit them 

 to be capable leaders of this great State, and that of the 

 State Treasurer who has to find the money. Let us hope 

 that Queenslanders will see that the best education that 

 can be had is not too good for the best of our young men 

 and women, and that they mil give at election times a 

 mandate to their Parliamentary representatives that 

 education, primary, secondary and University, is the 

 most important part of the national life which is dealt 

 with by our system of Government, and must be made 

 efficient. Primary education is already well in hand, 

 secondary and University education are only in their 

 infancy, and must be as carefully nourished and as freely 

 fed as our splendid system of primary education. 



