Vol. V. 

 1906 



J Austnilasian Orniihohgisis' Union. I 2 



was read upon various bird subjects. One of the vice-presi- 

 dents (Mr. J. \V. Mellor) presided. 



The question of more uniform laws for the preservation of the 

 game and birds of the Commonwealth was brought forward, as 

 it was thought that the whole of the States should join in the 

 movement upon an equal basis, it being unfair for birds to be 

 protected in South Australia and as soon as they got over the 

 border to be ruthlessly destroyed. A communication was 

 received from the Prime Minister relative to this movement. 

 He " did not see his way clearly," and therefore required more 

 forceful pressure to bring about a reformation ere it was too late 

 to save many of the rarer birds. 



On this subject Mr. C. F. Belcher, M.A., LL.B. wrote :— 



"I am sorry to say I sliall not be able to put the game unifi- 

 cation scheme before the present session, as I had intended. 

 However, I will codify the conclusions I have arrived at, so 

 that the matter may be mentioned at the Congress : — ■ 



" I. Inasmuch as the present South Australian Act embodies all 

 the most useful provisions of the A.O.U. model law, I think it 

 should be taken as a basis. There are one or two points in 

 which existing provisions of the Victorian Acts could be 

 adopted with advantage ; this could be done perhaps best by a 

 short amending Act. 



" 2. In each of the other States the present game laws should 

 be repealed so far as they relate to birds, and a new law, framed 

 on the lines of the South Australian Act, should be passed. 



" 3. The Commonwealth Parliament may be able to help us 

 by a law on the lines of the Lacey Act to regulate inter-State 

 commerce re birds. I have here no copy of the Constitution, 

 and as one will not reach me till to-morrow have not been able 

 to answer Mr. Mattingley's letter of 6th inst. I suggest that 

 the Council, which sits in Melbourne, should be the body to 

 move in the direction of getting what Commonwealth legislation 

 we can ; but, of course, we are bound by the limits of the Federal 

 Constitution (which, by the way, appear elastic enough where 

 " union labels," &c., are in question). 



" 4. The local ornithological bodies in the other States and 

 Victoria — i.e., the Union, if locally organized, or other bodies 

 affiliated with it — must do the State work, which is by far the 

 most important. As said, little is to be done in South Australia, 

 but in New South Wales (where no species is protected all the 

 year round 'j and the other States much is required. I suggest 

 legislative sub-committees be formed in each State, with one 

 practising lawyer, if possible (or more), in each. 



" I was drafting a model law embodying the apparently best 

 clauses, but there is so little to be added to the South Australian 

 Act, and its language is so clear, that I think it preferable to 

 work from that. 



