128 
THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
posed amendments in the Pharmacy Acts became law. Wrote the Victorian 
secretary: — “ At the present time (15th May, 1883) the colonies of New Zealand, 
Queensland, and South Australia are all asking for fresh legislation in pharmacy, 
and these colonies have expressed their willingness to submit to the Conference 
the proposed alterations, with a view to make their respective Acts as uniform 
as possible.” It was stated that intimation had been received from Dunedin, 
Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, and Launceston, 
expressing a desire and intention of being represented at the Conference ; and 
the New South Wales society was requested to reconsider its previously expressed 
opinion in favour of a postponement, and to fix a date during the year at which 
the delegates might meet, either in Sydney or elsewhere. The reply to this was : 
— “ I have to inform you that the decision arrived at is simply the same as 
before, viz., that it would be better, in the opinion of the Pharmaceutical 
Council of New South Wales, to defer holding the said proposed Conference until 
next year — say for twelve months from date at least.” 
In consequence of the Sydney society adhering to this^view, it was considered 
politic to allow the matter to remain in abeyance for the nonce. But in May, 
1884, the hon. secretary of the Victorian body again addressed the New South 
Wales society, pointing out that the prescribed twelve months had elapsed, and 
again urging the necessity for a Conference of Australasian pharmacists. A 
favourable reply to this was not received until May, 1885, when it was intimated 
that the Pharmaceutical Society of New South Wales had decided that a 
Conference should be held at Sydney on 16th and 17th September, 1885, and 
requesting to be apprised of the subjects which the Victorian council proposed 
for discussion. The Victorian society answered that, in the opinion of its 
counci], the most important question for settlement was the assimilation of the 
standard of teaching and examination throughout the colonies, and requesting 
some information as to whether and what platform the Sydney body had agreed 
upon for submission to the Conference. This salient point could not be satisfactorily 
agreed upon, and, after a wearying correspondence, the proposal was again shelved. 
Now, however, after a lapse of two years, there is every prospect of the 
Conference being an accomplished fact ; and that the best results may eventuate 
from it to both pharmaceutists and pharmacy throughout the colonies of the 
Australasian group well-wishers of the profession are most hopeful, since there is 
every reason for the expectation that the gathering will be a large and representative 
one. The dates appointed are the 27th, 28th, and 29th of October next, the delegates 
meeting at the College of Pharmacy, Melbourne. The following is an outline of the 
principal topics which will be submitted to the societies throughout the Austral- 
asian colonies for their suggestions and revision before the final programme of the 
Conference is agreed on : — 
1. That a uniform system of pharmaceutical education throughout Australasia 
and New Zealand is desirable. 
(a) . Preliminary Examination. 
(b) . Apprenticeship, — years. 
(c) . Course of Study. 
(i d ). Examinations to embrace — 
1. Materia Medica. 
2. Botany. 
3. Chemistry and Practical Chemistry. 
4. Practical Pharmacy. 
2. Uniformity of legislation on pharmacy throughout all the colonies. 
3. The sale and custody of poisons. 
4. Uniformity of regulations as to the sale and custody of poisons by 
pharmaceutical chemists and holders of licenses to sell poisons. 
