THE 



Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. 



ITS PRESENT POSITION AND FUTURE AIMS. 



By A. F. BASSET HULL, President. 



In pursuance of the powers vested in the Council of the Society by the Members at the Special General 

 Meeting held on ioth January, 1916. the Society's collection of animals and birds, together with all 

 cages, buildings and apparatus contained in the Zoological Gardens at Moore Park, were handed over 

 to the Trustees of Taronga Zoological Park. The transfer was formally made by resolution of the 

 Council passed at a meeting held in the office in the Moore Park Gardens — thenceforward to be known 

 as " the old Zoo " — on 13th July, 1916. Some birds and animals had already been taken to the " new 

 Zoo " at Taronga Park, and the remainder have since been transferred to the more spacious grounds 

 on the northern shore of the Harbour. 



The Society retained its library and office furniture, and claimed to be entitled to certain moneys 

 representing members' subscriptions for the unexpired half of 1916, and the balance (/750) of a sum 

 of /i.ooo advanced to the Taronga Park Trust in 191 2 for preliminary work in connection with the 

 new site. 



Owing to the fact that the Trustees of Taronga Park were also members of Council of the Society, 

 and the Society's Director was the Trustees' Secretary, matters financial were conducted under an 

 informal arrangement which rendered any strict accountancy quite out of the question. 

 The balance-sheet presented at the Society's Annual Meeting showed that an overdraft of £317 remained 

 unpaid, and that there was about £93 cash in- hand. The Trust subsequently paid the overdraft. 

 One-half of the subscriptions paid by members for 19 16, together with one-half of life members' 

 subscriptions, amounted to /135, and the balance of the advance, after adjustment of the overdraft 

 and cash in hand, was /5J6, a total of £66\ claimed by the Society. 



Unforeseen difficulties arose in regard to the legal position of the Trustees as to these moneys, 

 and, after some correspondence, a conference was arranged at which an executive committee of the 

 Council discussed the position with the Chairman of the Trust, and it was eventually arranged that 

 the Council should waive all claim to the moneys in question, the Trust increasing the number of 

 members of the Society to whom free entry to Taronga Park is granted, from 250 to 300. The terms 

 of the amended agreement were drawn up and formally assented to, as follows : — 



{a) The number of members of the Society to whom free admission to the Park and 20 tickets 



per annum is granted to be increased from 250 to 300. 

 (6) Permission to conduct scientific investigations in the Park subject to supervision to 



remain as already agreed upon. 



(c) Pending the erection of permanent suitable premises in the Park for the holding of the 



Society's meetings and storage of its records, as a temporary arrangement the Society to 

 have the use, when required, of the large room over the refreshment room, and a con- 

 venient place within which the Society's library and records can be securely kept, access 

 to same to be permitted only to the Council of the Society and the Trust or its responsible 

 officers. 



[d) The Council to have the use of its furniture and other effects, now on the premises of the 



Trust. 

 le) The Council to relinquish any claim to payment in cash in respect of subscriptions for 

 ordinary or life members up to 31st December, 1916, or the sum of £1,000 advanced 

 by the Society to the Trust, or any balance thereof, 



