88 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [v<J Ict 'xxxv 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



Penguin (and other) Oil Industry.— The president reported 

 that Mr. Kershaw and he had made many inquiries, and finally 

 it had been decided to invite Capt. White, of Adelaide, to 

 represent the Club at any inquiry at Macquarie Island into the 

 methods of oil production, especially where it concerned the 

 alleged danger of decimating the penguins and other animals. 

 The Premier of Tasmania had written, in reply to a com- 

 munication by the sub-committee, as follows : — 



" Dear Sir, — Referring to your communication of the 16th 

 instant with regard to the destruction of penguins and sea- 

 elephants at Macquarie Island, I beg to inform you that a 

 licence was granted to Mr. Joseph Hatch in connection with 

 the penguin oil industry, after a very full inquiry, and with 

 the concurrence of the Ornithological Association, Melbourne. 

 The lessees have to provide free transit and sustenance for a 

 Government expert to accompany them. A Captain White, 

 of Adelaide, is undertaking these duties in an honorary 

 capacity. 



" Instructions have been issued that no Emperor Penguins 

 are to be killed ; neither is the existing plant to be increased, 

 and, if necessary, all arrangements entered into with the 

 lessees are to be subject to three months' notice. — Yours faith- 

 fully, 



" (Signed) W. H. Lee, Premier. 

 " 29th August, 1 qi 8." 



Captain White, the chairman said, was willing to represent 

 the Club if occasion offered, but no definite arrangement had 

 been made when that gentleman's letter came to hand. Mean- 

 while, Mr. Mattingley had, owing to pressure of business, found 

 it impracticable to make good his offer. 



Wilson's Promontory National Park.- The president stated 

 that, as a member of the sub-committee appointed at last 

 meeting to watch and act if required in the matter of tin-mining 

 in the park, he had attended a deputation to the Minister of 

 Mines (Mr. Barnes, M.L.A.) Many representative men were 

 present besides naturalists. He asked Professor Sir Baldwin 

 Spencer, who had put the case for the societies, to report the 

 proceedings, and, if he could, forecast the result. 



Professor Spencer said: — "We had our deputation to the 

 Minister of Mines, and the Minister of hands was also there. 

 We had a deputation which was strongly representative of 

 all the societies. We placed the case before the Minister. We 

 were introduced by Mr. Mackey, the present Speaker, who, 

 years ago, when he was Minister for Lands, was instrumental 

 in preserving the Promontory. We put the case as strongly 



