Section B. 



c:hbmis;triy. 



ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT, 

 Professou T. H. EASTEHFIELD, M.A., Ph. D. 



Victoria University CoUeqe^ Wellington^ JS .Z. 



THE POSITION OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN AUSTRALASIA. 



In the drawing up of an ideal course of study the inclusion or 

 xejection of any subject must be eventually decided by the question of 

 usefulness. Not that subjects which have no direct monetary value 

 must be discarded, but rather that only those may be retained which 

 are likely to develop the intellect and intelligence of our citizens. 



Amongst the studies which will obtain greater and greater recog- 

 nitiou from our educational authorities, I believe that chemistiy 

 stands pre-eminent, for there is none which touches human interests 

 at so many points, has a greater power of exciting enthusiasm or of 

 developing clear methods of thought. Like all other subjects of 

 sterling value, such as literature, histoiy, or mathematics, chemistiy 

 may be so badly taught as to lose its value, a fact which has had 

 much to do with the tardy recognition given to the educational worth 

 ■of the science. Too often the teaching of chemistiy has been restricted 

 to the impai-ting of so-called useful facts dealing with metallurgy or 

 chemical manufactures. Such teaching, without a good foundation of 

 philosophical chemistiy, can be of little use even to the student of 

 technology, and to the seeker after general culture it is practically 

 valueless. LTseful facts are rapidly forgotten, but the student who 

 learns to " think in a chemical way " acquires a habit of thought 

 which will be of value in any calling which he may follow. More than 

 two centuries ago Robert Boyle pleaded for the study of chemistiy as 

 an independent science, and not as the handmaid to any art or pro- 

 fession : with all humility I would recall to Australasian chemists the 

 soundness of the attitude which Boyle took up. 



That the skilled technological chemist is of great value to the 

 community is -well recognised by our State autlwDrities. In Australia 

 and New Zealand together there are about 100 men holding State 

 appointments as analysts, assayers, and Government chemists. These 

 men are doing a most important work in protecting the public from 

 fraud, and in helping on the development of the natural resources of 

 the States in which they are employed. There is, moreover, in 

 Australia and New Zealand a large number of men engaged in the 

 teaching of chemistiy. Each State has its own arrangements, and in 



