XLII. 



<• Professor Pollock : I do not understand how the suggestion 

 is to be made to the agent of the Terra Nova, which is a privately^ 

 owned ship. 



Professor Kirk : Captain Scott is very anxious to have this 

 work done, and has asked the New Zealand Government for a 

 grant. They have a staff on board ready to do the work. From 

 the point of view of the promoters of the expedition that staff 

 would be absolutely useless if it were not used in making these 

 surveys. 



Professor Pollock : That fully answers my question. 

 The motion was carried unanimously. (See p. Ivii.) 



Forests Protection. 



Colonel Legge : The motion that I will move deals with a 

 matter that was informally mentioned at last meeting. I spoke 

 to the Permanent Honorary Secretary, and he recommended that 

 I should bring forward some such motion to-day. It is in reference 

 to the conservation of water supply. I move — 



"That in view of the vital importance of the conservation 

 of water in Australia by the protection of forests and 

 timber around the sources of its rivers and streams, 

 and which was to have been considered at the present 

 Congress, but was deferred until next meeting in 

 Melbourne, by resolution carried last Monday, it is 

 advisable that a special committee be now appointed 

 to deal with the question in the meantime, and also 

 bring it to the notice of the several Governments of the 

 Commonwealth, in order to prepare the way for a more 

 successful result when dealing with the matter at the 

 Melbourne meeting." 

 The evil is going on every year throughout Australasia. I know 

 especially in Tasmania the evil that is being done by the clearing 

 of timber around the sources of streams. I am sure it is going on 

 here as well as in Tasmania. The American Forestry Department 

 has taken the matter vigorously in hand and is carrying out experi- 

 ments, having observations made of the flow of streams where 

 the sources are cleared, and where they are not cleared, and where 

 they are in primeval forest. I think we should follow their 

 example in the Commonwealth. It is very hard to get the Govern- 

 ment to move in this forestry matter. By having a special com- 

 mittee going into the matter and urging the Government to deal 

 with the matter thoroughly in their Lands Department in each 

 State some good might be done before it is considered at the next 

 meeting. My feeling is that we should not lose two years' time. 



Mr. Lucas seconded the motion. 

 The motion was carried unanimously. 



Colonel Legge : I would ask that this special committee be 

 appointed on Saturday. 



