SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
SS  eeeeeeeEEeeee 
- express wish of Melbourne chemists that Sydney was unanimously 
agreed to as the head-quarters of the Institute. In a country such as 
this, in which the principal cities are so far apart, it if not easy to 
elect a representative council which can conveniently meet and transact 
business. Eventually it was decided that the council should consist 
of the Presidents of the State Branches, who may nominate some 
person to act for them, whilst it was agreed that meetings might, if 
necessary, be held in any of the State capitals. Since this scheme was 
‘ultimately adopted, it has meant that a number of Sydney chemists 
govern the Institute in the name of the State Presidents. On the whole, 
the system works fairly well, in spite of the unavoidable troubles which 
are inseparable from such an undertaking. 
The draft constitution was circulated again amongst the State Com- 
mittees, and, after further amendments had been made, it was printed 
and circulated in June, 1917. Applications for membership were then 
dealt with by the Provisional Committee in each State, and from the 
persons thus elected as members the State Branches were duly created. 
In most cases, a formal annual general meeting was held in September, 
1917, and officers appointed. The following were elected as the first _ 
State Presidents:—New South Wales, Dr. Cooksey; Victoria, Professor 
Masson; Queensland, Mr. J. B. Henderson; South Australia, Professor 
Rennie; Western Australia, Professor Simpson. These gentlemen 
became the Oouncil ex officio, and the first meeting of the Council was 
held on 8th-9th January, 1918, Dr. Cooksey and Professor Masson being 
present, whilst Mr. Boas represented Professor Simpson, Mr. Radcliffe 
represented Professor Rennie, and Mr. Mingaye represented Mr. 
Henderson. Dr. H. G. Chapman was elected honorary general treasurer, 
and Mr. B. J. Smart was elected honorary general secretary. The 
Institute was thus duly formed as the “ Australian Chemical Institute.” . 
As already pointed out, one of the important functions which the 
Institute was intended to fulfil was that of guarantecing to the public 
the qualifications of its members. It was therefore necessary from 
the outset to scrutinize closely the qualifications of those applying for 
membership, and to see that none “were admitted who were not 
thoroughly competent. At the same time, in order to insure that all 
persons bond fide qualified as chemists should be able to gain admission, 
the door had to be left open sufficiently wide. 
In fixing the standard it was decided, in the first place, that mem- 
bership should be open, firstly, to a graduate in science of an approved 
university, provided that chemistry formed one of the degree subjects; 
secondly, to a person who had obtained a diploma in chemistry at an 
approved technical college; and, thirdly, to a Fellow or Associate of 
the Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain and Ireland. Under the 
second heading, it was understood that only those diplomas would be 
approved which involved a systematic training in the science. In 
addition to the above, membership was made open for a limited period 
to teachers of chemistry, heads of commercial laboratories, or assistants 
recommended by them, provided in each case the applicant had been 
employed on chemical work for at least three years. This provision 
remained in force until the 1st January, 1919, except in the case of 
persons away on war service, who may still avail themselves of it. It 
is now necessary that any person who does not qualify under the first 
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