242 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, [Vol. XXIH. 



Cronin, Botanic Gardens, South Yarra ; Master John Drought, 

 St. John's Parsonage, Toorak. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



In accordance with his notice of motion at the previous 

 meeting Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., moved — "That in the opinion 

 of this Club a gun tax is desirable and necessary in order to lessen 

 the indiscriminate slaughter of native animals, especially birds." 



In support of his motion Mr. Hardy stated that his object in 

 bringing the matter before the Club was to endeavour to check, 

 as far as possible, the indiscriminate shooting of native animals 

 by ignorant persons and youths, especially during the holiday 

 seasons. He instanced several cases which had come under his 

 notice of protected mammals and birds being shot with no 

 further object than to gratify the passion for killing something. 

 The imposition of a tax was suggested, not with the object of 

 raising revenue, but with a view to restricting the use of the pea 

 rifle and shot gun by irresponsible persons, who ignored the 

 protection afforded our useful birds and mammals by the Game 

 Act. There was no intention to interfere with the true sports- 

 men, who, it was felt, would willingly support the object in view ; 

 while it would tend to strengthen the hands of the police in 

 enforcing the provisions of the Game Act. In the case of 

 farmers, graziers, orchardists, and others, to whom the gun was 

 indispensable for the purpose of keeping in check destructive 

 animals, such as the introduced fox, rabbits, and birds of prey, 

 &c., it was recognized that the imposition of a gun tax would be 

 a hardship, but in such cases it was suggested that exemptions 

 might be provided for. 



Mr. A. Mattingley seconded the motion, and thought that 

 something should also be done with a view to restricting the 

 number of birds shot during the open season. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland was of opinion that instead of a gun tax 

 every effort should be made to have the game laws rigidly enforced. 

 He thought that there should be more prosecutions, and heavier 

 fines imposed on those who persisted in evading the provisions of 

 the existing Game Act. He instanced the very rigid manner in 

 which the game laws were administered in America, and urged 

 that .some restriction should be placed on the number of birds 

 killed during the open season. 



Messrs. J. Shephard, D. Best, and R. Hall, C.M.Z.S., also 

 discussed the question. 



On the motion being put to the meeting it was declared 

 carried. 



The president announced that the committee would consider 

 what further steps should be taken in the matter. 



The hon. secretary reported that a communication had been 

 received from the Inspector of Fisheries regarding a request 



