232 State Secretaries' Reports. [?sffan" 



until the passage of the new Animals and Birds Bill. Three 

 years ago, however, we came close to effecting a considerable 

 measure of reform. After being waited upon by a deputation 

 from the natural history bodies, the then Minister for Agricul- 

 ture (Hon. Wm. Lennon) introduced a measure known as the 

 Game Bill, which was designed to replace the existing legisla- 

 tion covering fauna and fish. That measure aroused unexpected 

 opposition. It was alleged in one (|uarter to be prompted by the 

 squatters of Central (Queensland, and eventually it became a 

 "slaughtered innocent," getting no further than the first reading. 



The exigencies of party politics left no loophole for the conser- 

 vationists in succeeding sessions of Parliament. Propaganda 

 was having its effect, however, and early in the present session 

 a far-seeing Minister for Agriculture, Hon. W. N. Gillies (who 

 is also Deputy Premier), introduced the new Animals and Birds 

 Bill, the provisions of which, remodelled from the (jame Bill, 

 had our entire ai:»proval. The first reading passing on 2nd Sep- 

 tember, with the blessing of all political parties, safe conduct of 

 the bill seemed assured. Alas for the man or bird who trusts 

 too blindly! A trivial disagreement on the second reading, on 

 13th September, led to an Opposition member moving to post- 

 pone the motion (which he had supported) for three months. 

 That little misunderstanding nearly wrecked the measure. Mat- 

 ters of international importance intervened, and the luckless 

 Bird Bill rested at the bottom of the business paper until 27th 

 October. That was the last day of the session. A desperate 

 situation called for desperate action. Journalistic and kindred 

 influences entered the fray, and the House sat during half of 

 the dinner hour that day to pass the Animals and Birds Bill ! It 

 was the last measure passed by the Assembly, and was given an 

 historic touch by being also the last measure to be passed by 

 the abolished Legislative Council. 



The new measure, which comes into operation at the begin- 

 ning of 1922, affects birds and animals, whether native or im- 

 ported. All previous Acts of the kind are repealed, but all proc- 

 lamations made under them (including the gazettal of sanctu- 

 aries) are permitted to remain in force. Power is given the 

 Governor in Council to adjust close seasons, and, among other 

 things, prescribe the maximum number of any specified animal 

 or bird which any one person may take or kill or have in 

 possession on any one day, or within any specified period. This 

 provision for the placing of a limit on game bags is a welcome 

 innovation that is much in vogue in the United States, and 

 should be so also in Australia. 



The taking or killing at any time in a sanctuary- of any animal 

 or bird is absolutely prohibited, except under the written author- 

 ity of the Minister. This is a notable cinicession. The old Act 

 was very hazy on the point, and it recpiired notices to be erected 

 "not more than half a mile apart," an impossibility in big areas. 

 "Convenient and conspicuous places" is the requirement of the 



