1918.] The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 313 
(2.) To bring before the Government the scientific aspects of all matters 
affecting the national welfare ; 
(3.) To promote and extend the application of scientific principles to 
industrial and general purposes ; 
(4.) To promote scientific education by encouraging the support of 
universities and other institutions where the bounds of science 
are extended, or where new applications of science are devised. 
The awakened interest in the national significance of scientific method 
and work, although precipitated by the war, has undoubtedly been influenced 
by the work of the guild, and the appeal now being made for increased 
support is well based. Branches of the guild are active in Canada and South 
Australia. The subscriptions are—Life fellowship, £10 10s. ; fellowship. 
£1 Is. ; life membership, £5 ; membership, 10s. 
REVIEWS AND ABSTRACTS. 
Official Volume of Proceedings of the First Australian Town-planning 
and Housing Conference and Exhibition. 
This volume of Proceedings has just been issued. It is a quarto volume 
of 167 pages, and very freely illustrated by maps, plans of villages, 
perspective views of proposed settlements, and elaborate schemes for the 
improvement of Sydney. 
As a record of the actual proceedings it is of the very greatest value. 
In a foreword Mr. Charles Beade states that it was impossible to embody 
all the discussions which took place, but a selection of the views expressed 
has been embodied in the work and follows the printing of the papers 
read. 
As a work of reference it is not of the same value as a record of facts, 
for the reason that a very great number of opinions were expressed by 
the delegates which are not in accordance with the best thought of modern 
town-planners. It appears to me that in a work of this kind no statements 
which are not in accord with the accepted opinion of the majority of town- 
planners should be left uncontradicted or unnoted. It would be a much 
more valuable volume if it was very carefully edited by such an expert 
as Mr. Reade, and footnotes placed at the bottom calling attention to those 
statements of which town-planners do not approve. For expert planners 
this, of course, would not be necessary—they would at once realize that 
the statements expressed are erroneous ; but the publication of the volume 
is evidently intended to create a sound public opinion. 
Those interested in town-planning methods would turn to the volume 
for advice and instructions, and find on one page a statement which is 
contradicted on the next ; and discussions often do not appear to bear 
upon the essential facts and purpose of the paper read. The discussions 
are often side-tracked on to very unimportant details, and do not carry 
out the spirit and thought of the writer of the paper. 
Of course, the very valuable papers by Mr. Reade himself, by Mr. 
Sulman and others who have studied town-planning conscientiously, can be 
accepted as of great educational value, but one writer states that it is a 
