18 W. M. HAMLET. 



one which is objectionable to white ants. It is hoped that 

 eventually the structure of the molecule of this substance 

 will be determined so that its synthesis may be established. 

 It might be expected to act as a protection to other timbers 

 against these pests. Other chemical substances, new to 

 science, were also found occurring naturally in the Aus- 

 tralian pines ; these are to be described in forthcoming 

 publications on these trees. The phytochemical work in 

 connection with the Eucalypts and the Melaleucas has been 

 continued during the year, the results of which will eventu- 

 ally be submitted to the Society. 



Dr. Walter Spencer is doing yeoman's work in bringing 

 science into the body politic by establishing a New South 

 Wales branch of the British Science Guild — a truly mis- 

 sionary effort, whereby the nation is awaking and beginning 

 to realise the importance of the scientific spirit. I earnestly 

 commend the subject to your favourable notice and to the 

 attention of politicians, for no less an authority than Mr. 

 Haldane solemnly averred that "All the controversies that 

 now agitate the minds of politicians were of less importance 

 than the big question of how to make the permanent 

 element in politics more powerful and better." There was 

 too little science in it at the present time, and there was 

 hardly a department in the public service which did not 

 require the aid of science if it was to be effective ; was it 

 impossible to hope for the birth of an era when the head 

 of the Government should have at his disposal a corps of 

 the finest brains which the nation could produce ? It is 

 the unanimous desire of all the learned Societies in Great 

 Britain and her oversea dominions and commonwealth to 

 see that heads of Government will see their own way to 

 recognise the great work of the British Science Guild. The 

 work of our Royal and Linnean Societies not only fosters 

 the advance of science but is largely educational, and this 



