ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

Forest and Bird, Issue 30, 1 August 1933, Page 8

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

The following address was given at the Annual General Meeting, held on 26th April, by our outgoing President, R. A. Anderson, Esq., C.M.G. Unfortunately, Mr. Anderson has, at least for the time being, been compelled to reliquish the office of President owing to increased and urgent demands on his time. The Council have had regular meetings every three weeks during the past twelve months, and in addition the different sub-committees have met to consider special business. The principal matters dealt with were the deer menace, the shooting of godwit and game birds from motor-cars, bird collecting and birdliming, the German owl menace, the destruction of hawks and shags, godwit shooting, Little Barrier Sanctuary, destruction bv opossums, and poaching. Conditions in all these matters

have been bettered. A short season of seven days was. however, granted by the authorities for Paradise duck shooting. Pukeko shooting is prohibited except in a limited area in Central Otago where, it was alleged some harm was being done by these birds. The Department of Internal Affairs agreed to our

request to prohibit shooting from motor-cars and a regulation was gazetted accordingly. Matters dealing with Little Barrier have been and are being attended to in order to improve this remarkable sanctuary. We have had expeditions out to secure films of birds, and have secured many hundreds of feet of excellent films of birds for picture purposes. The godwit shooting season has been shortened by one month and restricted to certain districts as a result of the Society’s efforts, which always include the work of many outside the actual Executive. The objects of the Society are to advocate and obtain sufficient protection and preservation of our native birds, and we ask ourselves what is the best way to secure such a desirable end. One way this can be done is by the preservation of sanctuaries

and the scenic reserves in their native state and the preservation and extension of our native forests; by inducing widespread interest among our people, particularly the young, emphasising the fact that the welfare of the Dominion is bound up in tlw preservation of our native forests. A great deal has been done in providing scenic reserves throughout the Dominion, but there is still room for a further extension of these reserves in different parts of the country before the axe and the firestick take toll of the beauty spots of certain districts. It is very apparent, when traversing the Dominion, that in many places where the forest has been destroyed for the purpose of grazing it would have paid the country better had the forest been allowed to remain. Erosion has taken place and the grasses have gradually failed, and fern and scrub are now presenting a difficulty in dealing with this land for pastoral purposes. One of the great difficulties which is hampering the work of this and other societies interested in the preservation of our forests and birds is the divided control exercised through different Departments of State. A good deal has been written in regard to this control of wild life, and it does certainly seem a wise thing that this should be vested in one Department of State, with assistance from local committees in each centre throughout the Dominion. There are an increasing number of

people who are keenly alive to the necessity for preservation of our native forests and birds and who wo u I'd certainly, without fee or reward. be quite prepared to give any assistance necessary to a really live policy undertaken by a proper controlling head whose policy would be in the interests of the Dominion

first and private interests second. It does seem an anomaly that several Departments should be interested in the same area, or rather have certain powers delegated to them, and this must lead to confusion and want of systematic control. This Society is prepared, through its members, to give every assistance to any Department which may be appointed to a unified controlling position.

So many importations have turned out to be destructive pests that the very greatest care must be taken before any further introductions of birds or beasts are made into the Dominion. Evidence before the Society is accumulating as to the great destructiveness of the German owl, and there seems no way to deal with this pest other than by offering a bounty for its destruction. One of our members has on his own account offered a bounty of 2s. 6d. per head, and it was not long before he had received a considerable number. Where the nests had been secured there was undoubted evidence of the severe raid made on our smaller birds such as the fantail, tomtit, pipit and robin. Efforts were made by the Executive to induce the Acclimatisation Societies to join in a programme of suppression of this pest, but I am sorry to say that we did not get much encouragement. Unfortunately, the funds of the Society are barely sufficient to carry out the work already on hand, and the investment of the income from the Trust Funds only permits of it being used for educative purposes, so that we have to depend on our membership fees for an income which is too small to allow of our devoting any substantial sum for the purposes of destroying this bird. As I have already said, we have procured some very good films of birds in their native state, and it is proposed to have these shown in different parts of the Dominion, particularly amongst the schools. There can be no question that engaging the interest of the children attending the schools is one of the best methods of increasing the interest in the preservation of our native birds and forests, and no effort should be spared to see that the children have reliable information placed before them regarding the value to this country of our native birds and bush. I do not think there is any medium for conveying this information like the film. As a further means of education we will have available next month the Bird Album, which has been in preparation for the last eighteen months, and as each plate will be fully described, this should prove to be a valuable adjunct to the Society’s bulletins. The future policy of the Society should be in the direction of opening branches in not only the main centres, but also in the smaller towns throughout the Dominion. Although many members communicate with the Wellington office and continually supply useful information, yet if the Society is to fulfil its functions adequately it must extend its organisation in such a way as to gather in the native bird lovers from all parts of the Dominion. The membership must be considerably added to if an income is to be obtained sufficient for the Society’s needs, and this can only be done by having centres established as I suggest. The Society is well served by its voluntary workers —all officials

give their services free, but as the Society grows it is quite certain that the secretary’s position must be filled by a paid official. The work now being done is really too much of a tax on the time of the Hon. Secretary, Captain Sanderson, and if progress is to be made the position will have to be faced shortly. We have to acknowledge the consideration given us by the Departments of Internal Affairs and Lands and Survey. When unable to accede to our requests they have given us, at any rate, a sympathetic hearing.