AUSTRALIA
1955

Reports of Affiliates and Committees of The World Calendar Association, International, presented at the Ninth Annual Meeting 16 January 1956, reflect the world-wide interest in and need for calendar reform. Published highlights (JCR Vol. 25, Dec. 1955 - Jan. 1956) for AUSTRALIA:

AUSTRALIA
1954

The Australian Affiliate is increasingly active with excellent results. The Astronomical Society of South Australia has joined with other important organization in supporting The World Calendar. In May the Journal of The Retail Traders Association of New South Wales reported that its council "give full support to adoption of The World Calendar.' The Pan Indian Ocean Science Association, at its international Congress held in Perth, Western Australia, recommended adoption of The World Calendar. Professor A.D. Ross, Chairman of the Affiliate, stated that while this cannot be taken as representing the views of the member countries of the Association, it does express the unanimous opinion of a large number of their leading scientists who attended the Congress. The following countries sent delegations: Australia, Burma, Ceylon, France, India, Madagascar, Malaya, the Netherlands, Pakistan and Portugal.

The Affiliate, through Mr. J. K. Lavett, Deputy Chairman, is maintaining close and harmonious contact with the Roman Catholic Church in Australia.

An excellent circular letter was drafted by the Victorian State Committee and forwarded, together with material on the revision, to all members of the Victorian Parliament.

The Australian Council of Retailers announced that the recent action of ECOSOC in adopting India's resolution was most heartening and their affiliated association in other States have been notified of the news.

Further excellent publicity was obtained through Mr. Lavett's article in Rydge's Business Journal (Australia's leading business periodical) and by means of a display in the Museum of Applied Sciences, Melbourne.

Material on The World Calendar, together with an appropriate covering letter, was sent to about 130 trade unions in New South Wales, after consultation with Mr. Albert Thompson, one of Sydney's leading trade union leaders, who has signified his willingness to assist the movement in every way possible.

The Australian Affiliate plans to continue its approach to scientific, commercial, industrial and cultural organizations; to keep in touch with Parliamentarians; and to promote the cause on every possible occasion.

AUSTRALIA
1953

SUSTAINED progress toward the international enactment of calendar reform was reported at the Seventh Annual Meeting 15 January 1954 of The World Calendar Association, International, held in the International Building, New York City. Published highlights (JCR Vol. 24, April 1954) for AUSTRALIA:

After a year of careful preparation, the inaugural meeting of the new Australian Committee for The World Calendar was held in Sydney on 3 December. Officers were elected as follows: Chairman, Professor A. D. Ross (head of the {an Indian Ocean Science Association), Perth; Deputy Chairman and Executive Officer, John K. Lavett (Assistant General Manager of the Commonwealth Life Amalgamated Assurances), Sydney; Honorary Secretary-Treasurer, J. E. Marr (business systems consultant), Sydney; Public Relations Officer, R. B. Prowse, Sydney.

The program of activities approved at the December meeting included: (1) A survey of business, scientific and educational organizations to enlist their support; (2) An educational campaign through press and radio )along the lines suggested by the National Research council) under the direction of Mr. Prowse; (3) An approach to the Federal Parliament, requesting instruction to the Australian delegation at the United Nations to support the move being made by India to legislate calendar reform at the ECOSOC meeting in Geneva in July, 1954; (4) Organization of state committees to be completed before the end of February.

It is expected that Item No. 4 in this program will be particularly effective. Professor Ross has set an excellent model for the other states in his Western Australia committee, which includes such influential manes as the Archbishop of Perth, the Directors of Education and Agriculture, the Government Astronomer, the head of the Western Australia Newspapers, the president of the Citizens Rights Association, a former president of the Chamber of Manufacturers, and the eminent lawyer Sir Ross McDonald, former Attorney General.

On 30 September the Council of the Royal Society of New South Wales supported The World Calendar and approved Mr. Lavett's plans for organization of the new Australian Committee. In October he received the approval of the Retail Traders Association, a powerful body with Commonwealth-wide membership; the Australian council of Retailers at its annual fall meeting in Perth, passed a resolution to support The World Calendar.

At the end of December, Professor Ross left Perth on a trip to Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, during which he planned to confer with the state committees and assist them in getting their activities under way.

The Second Pan Indian Ocean Science Congress will be held in Perth in August, 1954, with Calendar Reform on the agenda as a topic for discussion and endorsement. Professor Saha of India, Chairman of the Calendar Reform Committee appointed by Nehru a year ago, has been invited to attend.

HOME