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Well-attended annual meeting and council meeting in June

THIS YEAR’S annual meeting, held in Wool House, Wellington, on 12 June, was well attended by councillors and members of the Society from throughout New Zealand. Only one of the 38 branches was not represented. THE President, Mr A. A. T. Ellis, Q.C., who officiated, welcomed participants. With him was the deputy president, Dr A. Edmonds, and the national treasurer, Mr D. J. Underwood. Speaking to the annual report, the president referred briefly to the failure of the merger proposals in January and his letter to members to that effect. The continued growth and strength of the Society in these troubled financial times were indicative of the balanced concern of people and made the Society’s role vital to the future of the forests, birds, and _ natural features of New Zealand. He referred to the up-date of the annual report for the 3 months to the annual meeting regarding the impending increase in head office staff. He spoke of the difficult year that had passed and of the assistance received from the Environmental Defence Society and from the Society’s membership of the Joint Campaign on Native Forests, which had made it possible for the depleted head office staff to cope with the task. Mr Ellis expressed his warm appreciation of the loyalty of the staff and said that the hours they had worked were far beyond the call of duty and had shown their dedication to the cause. He said that 1983 would be the Society’s diamond jubilee

year and that this would be coupled with a large jubilee fund-raising drive, which David Collingwood, who had been organising it, would describe to the council. Mrs Olga Langford, the national secretary, had retired in February and there would be a Society presentation to her at the council. Mrs Joan Leckie had taken over as national secretary and he welcomed her to the meeting. A member from South Taranaki Branch spoke on the Society’s journal and suggested

changes. Many views were expressed by members, and the president ruled that these suggestions would be noted. The president referred to the completion after 3 years of research of the kokako report by the Society, prepared by Rod Hay, and said that it had been welcomed by the Minister as useful in the Government’s final decision to reserve the Pureora forests.

In October last year the Society had been represented at the historic General Assembly of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) at Christchurch and had taken a significant role as New Zealand’s oldest member of this world body. Changes to constitution After the annual report and statement of accounts had been accepted the meeting dealt with changes to the constitution. COUNCIL MEETING At the council meeting which followed the annual meeting it was announced that Mr Ellis (president), Dr Edmonds (deputy president), and Mr Underwood (national treasurer) had been elected unopposed. Executive elected The following executive of 10 was elected from 22 nominations: Messrs D. Appleton, H. F. Heinekamp, RK: ©: G. Janes, J. NV. Jerram, G. Lon, 8S: BU; McKenzie, and J. Newton, Professors A. Mark and J. Morton, and Mrs M. Peace. Presentation During the election the president called the retiring national secretary, Mrs Olga Langford, to the rostrum. He referred to her 9 years of service to the Society, carried out so assiduously and always with friendliness and with a wellOrganised administration she had developed during the testing period of Society growth.

He then presented her with an inscribed silver tray and six silver goblets from the members of the Society with their best wishes for her retirement. Mrs Langford said it had been her pleasure to serve such fine people and spoke of the joys and disappointments she had known over the years. She said that after her experience she considered that the Society’s constitution was in need of change, as the organisation was now much larger. She offered to discuss her suggested changes with Mr Ellis and Mr Underwood. She thanked members for the presentation, adding that she treasured the many enduring friendships she had made and that she would continue to play her part as an ordinary member of the Society. The president spoke of the retirement from the executive of Sir Charles Fleming. He stated that his contribution to conservation and to the Society could not be overemphasised and he paid tribute to Sir Charles’s service. Sale of property Mr Underwood said that the property at Kent Terrace had

at last been sold and as a consequence those members who had kindly lent money had been repaid with the thanks of the Society. Society fund raising Mr Collingwood presented the fund-raising proposals he had prepared. As 1983 was the diamond jubilee year of the Society, he had used this as the focal point for a fund-raising effort to put the Society once and for all into a strong financial position. It would be necessary to fund more conservation projects in the future as more species and areas came under threat. The fund raising would be fourfold: eA $250,000 Jubilee Conservation Fund Appeal. This would be a public appeal running from the council meeting for 1 year at least. It would have nominated projects and would enable the public to support the Society in its work. eA 16-page mail-order catalogue would be supplied to all members, with the August issue of Forest and Bird, listing Society goods, books, table goods, packs and tramping gear, calendars, posters, and cards.

e A quick lottery for conservation funds running for | month from the council meeting. A Christmas lottery and a large jubilee lottery in April next year were planned. eA door-to-door ‘envelope combined membership and donation drive to be tested in the Wellington region first and then extended to all branch areas thereafter. After some discussion, with a few councillors doubting the lottery proposal and Mr Collingwood’s further intention to start Forest and Bird gift shops as a later venture, the meeting approved the fund-raising proposals. Maud Island The following remit was adopted: ‘‘That this Society, recalling its considerable involvement both on conservation grounds and financially in the acquisition of Maud Island as a sanctuary, expresses its deep concern at the recent appearance of a stoat there and offers to the Wildlife Service any assistance it can provide, including, if necessary, the recruitment of volunteer wardens to man the station during the predator-eradication programme. ‘‘That this meeting instruct the executive to make a press release to express the Society’s involvement and concern in the future of Maud Island.’’ Catlins Coastal Park The unanimous support of the Society for the establishment of this coastal park was registered and the following remit was adopted: ‘‘That the Society supports in principle the concept of the Catlins Coastal Park."’ Other conservation matters and remits were dealt with and these gave evidence of the wide-ranging and increased activity of the Society. &

This article text was automatically generated and may include errors. View the full page to see article in its original form.I whakaputaina aunoatia ēnei kuputuhi tuhinga, e kitea ai pea ētahi hapa i roto. Tirohia te whārangi katoa kia kitea te āhuatanga taketake o te tuhinga.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/FORBI19820801.2.10

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Forest and Bird, Volume 14, Issue 3, 1 August 1982, Page 13

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,157

Well-attended annual meeting and council meeting in June Forest and Bird, Volume 14, Issue 3, 1 August 1982, Page 13

Well-attended annual meeting and council meeting in June Forest and Bird, Volume 14, Issue 3, 1 August 1982, Page 13

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