PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



ality that it is no wonder the action of His Majesty was 

 hailed with delight and satisfaction, not only by the mem- 

 bers of this Society, but by everyone in the Commonwealth. 



Mr. G. P. Earp, another member of the Society, was 

 honoured by His Majesty the King. Always an active 

 worker in all public movements, he entered with great 

 zeal into the many activities connected with war work. 

 Amongst the many things to which he gave his attention 

 and assistance was that of the training of the returned 

 soldiers, especially at Newcastle. The members of the 

 Society and the public generally were very glad to hear 

 that Mr. Earp had been made a Commander of the Order 

 of the British Empire. 



The Australasian Association for the Advancement of 

 Science at its last meeting decided to award the Mueller 

 Medal to Mr. R. T. Baker. News of this decision was very 

 welcome to the members of this Society. Mr. Baker has 

 been untiring in his labours in the cause of science, and 

 has contributed very largely to a knowledge of the eco- 

 nomic value of the natural resources of Australia. As a 

 departmental colleague of Mr. Baker, it is a matter of 

 particular pleasure to me to be able to call attention to 

 the distinction which has been conferred upon him. 



Events arising out of the great war altered the aspect of 

 many things, but perhaps most of all that of science organ- 

 isation. In fact it had become apparent as the war went 

 on that the very existence of nationhood depended upon 

 the efficiency with which scientific research was fostered 

 and cared for. On the other hand, it soon became quite 

 clear that the allied powers would have to withdraw from 

 existing conventions relating to international scientific 

 associations, and establish new international science rela- 

 tionship within the control of the allied nations. With a 

 view to arriving at a knowledge of what should be done, 



