Papers presented at Social Anthropology symposium during A.I.A.S. General Meeting, Canberra, May 1968; Contents; R.M. Berndt - Introduction; A.P. Elkin - Before it is too late; C.H. Berndt - Prolegomena to a study of genealogies in north - eastern Arnhem Land; W. Shapiro - Local exogamy and the wifes mother in Aboriginal Australia; A.A. Yengoyan Demographic factors in Pitjandjara social organization; T.G.H. Strehlow - Geography and the totemic landscape in Central Australia; a functional study; N.D. Munn - The transformation of subjects into objects in Walbiri and Pitjantjatjara myth; M. Reay - A decision as narrative; K. Maddock - Myths of the acquisition of fire in northern and eastern Australia; N. Peterson - Buluwandi; a Central Australian ceremony for the resolution of conflict; R.M. Berndt - Traditional morality as expressed through the medium of an Australian Aboriginal religion; H. Petri and G. Petri-Odermann Stability and change; present - day historic aspects among Australian Aborigines; R. Tonkinson Aboriginal dream - spirit beliefs in a contact situation; Jigalong, Western Australia; J. Long Polygyny, acculturation and contact; aspects of Aboriginal marriage in Central Australia; F. Gale The impact of urbanization on Aboriginal marriage patterns; all contributions listed separately in bibliography.