Page Twenty-Two 
THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST 
May 9, 1950. 
FIELD NATURALISTS’ SECTION OF THE 
ROYAL SOCIETY OF S.A. 
REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE 
YEAR 1947-48 
(ABRIDGED) 
It gives pleasure to record that during 
the past year the number of financial mem- 
bers of the Section has increased to a total 
of 286, which, as far as can be ascertained 
from the records, is greater than during any 
past period of our history. 
We have lost through death several 
esteemed members, including Miss Harwood, 
Mr. A. J. Morison, Sir Herbert Hudd, and 
Mr. E. T. Wheare, and two former members, 
Mr. L. Ralph and Mr. F. Arndt. 
Definite steps have been taken to imple- 
ment the first object of the section, “The 
Preservation of the Native Flora and Fauna 
of South Australia.” The second object, 
“Opportunity for Observation and Study,” 
has been fulfilled by the holding of excur- 
sions, club meetings, lectures and discussions. 
Many new members who joined this year 
did so in response to a pamphlet distributed 
at our Wild Flower and Nature Show held 
last October; this pamphlet emphasised the 
need of conservation. 
I am pleased to report that the retiring 
Committee has given serious consideration 
to ideas for practical conservation work. 
Our aim must be to secure a properly 
balanced and scientific conservation plan that 
will secure preservation of animals and plants 
with their natural ecological associations, and 
in addition we must realise that conserva- 
tion needs to be considered in conjunction 
with utilisation. 
Many and varied problems have to be 
studied; a great deal of work is entailed, 
but it is our duty to the naturalists and to 
the people of Australia generally, and to the 
naturalists in other parts of the world, to 
do everything in our power to prevent our 
native flora and fauna from being further 
overwhelmed and displaced by importations 
from other lands. 
I ask the Section, and in particular the 
members of the incoming Committee, to treat 
conservation as an urgent matter, not to be 
relegated to a minor place in our activities. 
During the year a “Parklands Preserva- 
tion League’ was formed by Adelaide citi- 
zens, and I have represented this Section on 
the Committee of this League. A watch is 
being kept on parklands throughout the State. 
The “Tree Planting League” has been re- 
vived by the Lord Mayor of Adelaide and 
others, and 1 have represented the Section 
on the Committee of this League also. 
In these Committees, and in other places, 
I am urging, on your behalf, that in all 
plantings preference be given to Australian 
native flora, and I make a special request 
to all members as follows: — In all your public 
and private conversations, please do all you 
can to secure a greater appreciation of Aus- 
tralian native flora, the natural home of our 
fauna. We have in this land many forms of 
life that are unique. Let us then preserve 
these forms for the benefit and enjoyment 
of ourselves and others who may follow us 
in this domain. 
The Clubs of this Section — the Botany, 
Conchology, Geology and Zoology Clubs — 
have carried on, providing facilities for study 
to those who w T ish to increase their know- 
ledge of natural science, and it is pleasing 
to note that we have among us many earnest 
students representing various age groups. 
Our Treasurer, Mr. J. J. Turnbull, who took 
office last August, has successfully accom- 
plished the two rather difficult tasks of 
bringing our membership roll up to date 
and of placing our finances and financial 
statements in good order. 
I wish to express my thanks to all officers 
and all members of the Committee, all leaders 
of excursions and lectures, who have cheer- 
fully done their best to further the interests 
of the Field Naturalists’ Section. 
P. J. W. SWANN, Chairman. 
SECRETARY’S ANNUAL REPORT 
For Year Ending August 17, 1948 
We have had forty excursions, some of them 
to the beaches and others to different localities 
in the hills. We attended the Museum on 
three occasions, also the Zoo and the Botani- 
cal Gardens, and a trip on the Torrens Lake 
for the study of Waterweeds. Our bus trips 
w^ere to Myponga, Maslin’s Beach, Moana 
and St. Kilda. 
We held our Wildflower and Nature Show 
in the Liberal Club Hall, North Terrace, on 
October 17 and 18, 1947, and it proved a 
great success. Our thanks are due to all 
