15 The South Australian Naturalist. 



Tlie Royal Society a])poiiitefl a Committoe to confer witli 

 our Committee Avith a view to discussing' the advisability or 

 otherwise of transfering- direct control of the latter from the 

 Field Naturalists' Soeiet}' to the parent body. The whole 

 question, howcA^er, has been held in abeyance. 



A letter protesting- against the renewal of the lease of Mac- 

 quarie Island, and urging the reservation of the island as a 

 sanctuar}^ for the fauna and flora of sub-Antarctica, was sent to 

 the Tasmanian authorities. The need for direct representation 

 of the Committee on the National Park Board was again brought 

 under tlie notice of the Government. A letter supporting the 

 Government in theii* determination to adhere to the period 

 already fixed for the close season for ducks in the South-East 

 was also forwarded to the res|)onsible Minister. The proposal 

 made by Mr. T. P. Bellchambers to establish a Nature Lovers' 

 League was considered, but the Committee came to no decision 

 on the matter. 



A ])roposal outlined in a section of the ])ress regarding the 

 organisation of a kangaroo and emu hunt on the occasion of the 

 visit of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales to Australia was discussed, 

 but it was decided that no action be taken by the Committee. 

 The Chairman, during the year, addressed meetings in rural 

 districts, chiefly under the auspices of agricultural bureaux, 

 on the subject of " I'seful Native Birds and their Protection." 



The Chairman also visited the Coorong in connection with 

 bird protection, and made an annual visit of inspection to the 

 nesting islands of pelicans and swans. He also visited Kan- 

 garoo Island on general protection work, with particular refer- 

 ence to Flinders Chase. 



The Hon. Geo. Lafl'er, M.P., and the Chairman waited on 

 the Minister of Industry and made a strong representation to 

 shorten the open season for opposums, but unfortunately the 

 Minister controlling the Act stated that having issued licences 

 for the period nothing could be done to shorten the time this 

 year. It is not likely that the opposum season will be open 

 again, owing to the slaughter having been so great during the 

 three months the embargo was removed. 



8. A. WHITE, Chairman. 

 H. W. ANDREW, Seeretarv. 



