PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 1 t 



that on yeasts, now being carried out at the Technical 

 College by Dr. Chapman, will, it is anticipated, effect con- 

 siderable alterations in the present methods of bread 

 making, his endeavour being to produce a yeast that will 

 ferment earlier, and thus enable the dough used for bread 

 making to ripen more rapidly. 



The Advisory Committee is collecting information and 

 establishing relations with other public and professional 

 bodies interested in scientific research and industries, and 

 I look forward to great advantages resulting from this 

 attempt to co-ordinate research throughout the Common- 

 wealth. 



During the past year the question of the organization of 

 chemists has come into prominence. At the suggestion of 

 Professor Orme Masson, chemists have met together in the 

 different States, and have elected committees to prepare a 

 constitution for an Australian Chemical Institute. Repre- 

 sentatives from the various States met together in Sydney 

 in January 1917, and drew up a constitution, which has 

 been accepted, with some alterations, by the committees 

 in all the States. It is hoped that the formation of this 

 professional organization will lead to a better recognition 

 of the value of chemical work. A Federal Institute should 

 command the confidence of those requiring chemical assist- 

 ance in mining, manufacture, and primary production. 



%■ ^ %. %. jji :fc $z 



I had a difficulty in finding a suitable subject for my 

 presidential address that would be of interest to members, 

 as the scope of the work carried out by engineers in private 

 practice in this State is not such as to enable me to describe 

 any great system of works such as my predecessors have 

 been able to do. As it was twenty-five years from the date 

 of my election as a member until I had the honour of being 

 elected President, it occurred to me that a review of some 



