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:
The
activities of the Australian Affiliate for the year 1955 were
confined to consolidating their position throughout Australia,
completing their organization in each State by additional
appointments to the Committee where necessary, and utilizing
every opportunity to extend their influence--particularly
in commercial, professional and scientific spheres.
Valuable
publicity was given the movement through national newspapers,
the Australian edition of Reader's Digest and trade journals.
The Journal of the Retail Traders' Association has been especially
helpful. In the October 1955 issue, they again affirmed their
support as follows: "Council of the Retail Traders' Association
of N.S.W. gives full support to adoption of The World Calendar,
believing that the complexities of modern living have left
the present calendar obsolete, and that The World Calendar
proposed would be a reform of universal significance."
Contact with religious leaders and the Trade Union Movement
was maintained.
The
Australian Affiliate concluded that it "is now fully
"geared" to take advantage of the forward movement
which we confidently anticipate will take place in this part
of the world in the months to come. We can be depended upon
to do our best in forwarding the interests and establishment
of The World Calendar in Australia; despite opposition, indifference
and the attitude of governments we shall continue our efforts
for reform."
AUSTRALIA
1954
SIGNIFICANT
progress towards international agreement on calendar reform
was reported at the Eighth Annual Meeting 14 January
1955 of The World Calendar Association, International,
held in the International Building, New York City. Published
highlights (JCR Vol. 24, March 1955) for AUSTRALIA:
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.
CONTACT
The World Calendar Association
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