14 president's address. 



I am sure that I shall voice the sentiments of this Meeting in 

 offering to two of our Members, who have given of their best at 

 Gallipoli, sincere sympatliy in their bereav^ement. 



We have heard, with pleasure, during the year, of the appoint- 

 ments of two of our Members, both Members of the Council, also, 

 to important positions in the Department of Mines — Mr. Cambage 

 to succeed Mr. Pittman as Under Secretary; and Mr. J. E. Carne 

 to the position of Government Geologist. On behalf of the 

 Society, I would like to offer them our hearty congratulations on 

 their promotion, and our best wishes for success in their new 

 undertajvings. 



To Mr. J. H. Maiden, also, I would offer our cordial felicita- 

 tions on his election to the Royal Society of London. 



A noteworthy feature of late years has been the foundation of 

 large numbers of Societies all over the world, having for their 

 object the protection and preservation of the Flora and Fauna, 

 of natural beauty-spots, and places or buildings with historical 

 associations. 



In England, the Selborne Society is doing valuable work in 

 fostering the tendency towards caring for plants and animals. 

 America has its Audubon and other Societies, and, in Australia, 

 there are the Wild Life Protection Society, the Gould League of 

 Bird-lovers, and the Austi'alian Forest League. 



The only way in which effective protection can be brought 

 about is by educating the people, and leading them to see that it 

 is necessary; and it is this method which is adopted by all these 

 Societies. It is recognised by most of vis that, to be lasting, 

 such education should begin as early as possible; and, for this 

 reason, the Gould League of Bird-lovers seeks to enroll the school- 

 children. In this respect, the League has received the greatest 

 encouragement and assistance from the Educational authorities. 

 In our own State and in Victoria, that assistance has been par- 

 ticularly generous, and the results are very encouraging. In 

 many country schools, the wild birds come no longer under that 

 name, for they are almost domesticated; they come and feed 



