President's
Address of Welcome
to the
Honorary Patron, Sir Cyril Newall

It is with the greatest pleasure that we welcome you to our Annual Meeting to-day. We realise to the full the honour you have done us, at a time when there are so many exacting and important matters requiring your close attention. We feel your presence to be a happy augury for the future of work in science in the Dominion, and an inspiration to us to endeavour to shoulder and solve the problems that face us. At our Annual Meeting in May, 1940, on the motion of our President, we passed the following resolution:

“That this Annual Meeting of the Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand expresses its loyalty to His Majesty the King, and assures him and his Ministers in New Zealand of the whole-hearted support of the members of this Society in the efforts that are being made to bring the present great conflict with our enemies to a successful issue, and that the Council directs that this resolution be forwarded to the Right Honourable the Prime Minister with the request that it be respectfully submitted to His Majesty.”

We now express that loyalty once again, but I feel that no formal resolution is required, as you have, Sir, but a few days ago assured His Majesty of the unswerying loyalty and devotion of the whole people of this Dominion.

We trust that in your capacity as Honorary Patron of our Society you will be good enough to address us at the conclusion of the calling of the roll.