^"'l.^'^'l Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. I()3 



Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. 



The annual meeting of tlie Royal Australasian Ornithologists' 

 Union for igig was held in Brisbane, Queensland, commencing 

 on 23rd September. 



The following members proceeded from South Australia, 

 namely : — Capt. S. A. and Mrs. White, the Misses Vohr, Miss 

 Matthews, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews. From Victoria :— Dr. J. A., 

 and Miss Leach, Colonel (i. Home, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Israel, 

 Mrs. E. Stubbs, Mr. H. J. L. Watson, Mr. O'Meara, and the hon. 

 secretary, Mr. W. H. D. Le Souef. From New South Wales : — 

 Mr. and Mrs. C. Coles, Messrs. A. S. Le Souef, F. C. Morse, K. G. 

 Hays, H. J. Carter, N. Cayley, and Drs. CI eland and D'Ombrain. 

 From Tasmania : — Mr. C. E. Lord. Many Queensland members 

 attended, including Professor T. Harvey Johnston, Messrs. Tryon, 

 A. H. Chisholm, C. D. Gillies, G. H. Barker, and H. A. Long- 

 man. 



This was the first annual congress of the R.A.O.U. that had 

 been held since 1914. So many members being absent at the 

 war, the meetings had been postponed until the war was 

 over. 



In the unavoidable absence of the president, Mr. A. F. Basset 

 Hull, of New South Wales, the senior vice-president, Dr. J. A. 

 Leach, of Victoria, occupied the chair. There was a good attend- 

 ance of delegates, five States being represented. 



The chairman, in opening the proceedings, stated that the 

 Union was happy in meeting again in this year of peace. He 

 briefly referred to the great part played by Australia in the war, 

 and expressed the hope that national sentiment would mark also 

 their work in ornithology. Queensland was to be congratulated 

 on its fine work in the matter of bird protection, especially in 

 regard to the work among the children. 



Dr. Leach pleaded for the establishment of more sanctuaries — • 

 cities of refuge for our harassed birds and animals and for the 

 safeguarding of these, which, he contended, was our duty to the 

 country and to posterity. He also dwelt on the supreme economic 

 value of the birds, and suggested that the R.A.O.U. might 

 co-operate with the Federal Bureau of Science and Industry. He 

 emphasized the federal character of the Union, and said that, 

 although the headquarters must of necessity be in Melbourne or 

 some one place, it was desired that the voice of all the States 

 should be equally heard. 



At the conclusion of the chairman's address the delegates stood 

 in silence as a tribute to the nine members of the l^nion who had 

 given their lives in the war. 



The chairman, with the representatives of the hve States and 

 the hon. secretary, left at this stage to pay official calls on 

 His E.xcellency the Governor (Sir Hamilton Goold Adams), the 

 Premier, the Ministers for Agriculture and Education, and the 

 Maj^or of Brisbane. Colonel Home (Vic.) took the chair. 



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