Vol. XIX. J (^(^iig Secretaries' Reports. J4I 



over a week. The most gratil'yiiif^ part was the audiences were 

 large and appreciative. Al)out thirty addresses have been given 

 this year on l)ird-pr()tection, and correspondence has doubled. 

 Many convictions have been made in respect to shooting pro- 

 tected birds. One officer was instrumental in two Swan -shooters 

 having to pay £y los. each to the revenue for shooting a Swan 

 each. Your representative has motored to country court-houses 

 to watch the trial of offenders against the bird-protection law^s. 



By proclamation the close season has been extended for game 

 birds to the 31st of January, and it w^ould be well to close the 

 season for twelve months, owing to the drought, for game birds 

 are restricted to small areas, owing to want of water and food, 

 and they cannot get away from them. 



S. A. White, Local Secretary, S.A. 



Queensland. 

 The present year has been a notable one in the history of the 

 study and protection of Queensland birds. Not only have bird- 

 lovers generally been displaying activity, but the interests of 

 the birds are receiving much-needed recognition in Government 

 and other official circles. 



The Home Secretary, Hon. John Huxham (now Minister for 

 Education), w^hose late department controls the Bird Pest 

 Destruction Boards, had something interesting to say on the 

 subject when addressing the Queensland Local Authorities Con- 

 ference on 14th August. In his address to the delegates in the 

 previous year he referred to a proposal to establish more boards 

 for the destruction of " bird pests," and more particularly 

 Sparrows, Starlings, Crows (Corvus), and " Scrub-Magpies " 

 [Strepera). " Since then," said Mr. Huxham, " I have read 

 articles in connection with bird-life which have made me pause 

 and wonder whether, after all, instead of authorizing the destruc- 

 tion of birds, something more should not be done to protect them." 



At about the same time another friend of the birds appeared 

 in the person of the Minister for Lands, Hon. J. H. Coyne. The 

 State secretary of the R.A.O.U. had interviewed Mr. Coyne and 

 laid before him complaints regarding the destruction of valuable 

 native birds in the low-lying parts of Queensland's great National 

 Park in the Macpherson Range, at the same time suggesting the 

 appointment of a salaried ranger and game warden. Mr. Coyne 

 expressed in forcible terms his opinion of bird-murderers generally 

 and those who intrude on sanctuaries in particular ; and, when 

 speaking to a deputation from the Beaudesert National Park 

 League a few days later, he took occasion to issue a stern warning 

 to all poachers on reserves. Subsequently the Minister appointed 

 Mr. E. M. O'Reilly, of Roberts's Plateau, a capable bushman and 

 bird-lover, to the position of working overseer of the National 

 Park, at a salary of £208 per annum. 



The cause of the birds in this State is not so much in the hands 



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