311 



and stocking with animals, that has been drawn up in readi- 

 ness to proceed when funds are available. 



Our Chairman (Capt. S. A. White) has attended meetings 

 of the Flinders Chase Board, interviewed Ministers, and 

 visited Kangaroo Island, in his endeavour to get the Govern- 

 ment to finance the Board, and has been Acting Chairman of 

 the Board since the Hon. John Lewis' resignation. 



A report having been received re destruction of Seals on 

 Pearson Island (a Reserve), a deputation, consisting of the 

 informant and delegates from this committee, waited upon the 

 Minister of Industry on March 8, and asked that adequate 

 protection be given to Seals on reserved areas. The Minister 

 promised to enquire into it, and would, so far as possible, 

 prevent a recurrence of the slaughter. The Minister has since 

 asked that the committee state exactly what waters and islands 

 they desired as a reserve for Seals. 



The Chairman was instrumental in securing a conviction 

 against half-castes for destroying native birds at Meningie, 

 but unfortunately the fine was only nominal. 



On August 16 a large meeting of Nature lovers was held 

 in the Adelaide Town Hall, in which members of the com- 

 mittee took a prominent part, and the gathering was addressed 

 by Capt. White, Messrs. E. Ashby and Edgar K. Waite. 

 The meeting was called as a result of a conference between 

 the Field Naturalists' Section and this committee with the 

 idea of awakening the public to the need of protection for 

 our Fauna and Flora. 



Through evidence brought before them by this committee 

 the Government decided to alter the close season for Kangaroos 

 and Wallabies, from the six months ending December 31, to 

 the six months ending March 31. By adopting the later 

 period it is hoped that it would prevent the heavy slaughter 

 of these marsupials when they came in to water during the hot 

 summer months. 



Our Chairman during the year has addressed numerous 

 gatherings, in country and metropolitan centres, on the sub- 

 ject of native birds and their need for protection, and in this 

 manner was largely responsible for the better understanding 

 of the need for further necessary legislation. He had also 

 visited the Coorong and the nesting islands of Pelicans and 

 Swans, and found that the birds were generally unmolested. 

 It is gratifying to learn that upon an island, not previously 

 used as a breeding ground, at least 800 young pelicans had 

 been successfully reared during the season. 



It is with deep regret that we have to record the death 

 of Mr. E. H. Lock, a valued and hard-working committee-man. 



