184 
Annual Congress 
The Emu 
• Jan. 
and thought that the result of such study might well be the ex¬ 
ploitation of the birds of the reef, under proper control, both 
for their eggs and for guano. Mr. Chisholm also thought that 
an industry could be built up from the eggs of birds on the Bar¬ 
rier Reef. He referred to the former flights of Torres Strait 
Pigeons southward along the coast of Queensland, and stated 
that in recent years the numbers of these birds had .been 
seriously reduced owing to the depredations of shooters. Thanks 
to recent legislation of the Queensland Government these depre¬ 
dations had been greatly lessened, if not stopped. Dr. Leach 
referred to the trade in Mutton-Birds carried on in Bass Strait 
for the past 100 years, and thought there was no reason why a 
similar industry should not be developed on the Barrier Reef. 
His Excellency, in reply, said that although the aim of the 
Barrier Reef Committee was the investigation of that remark¬ 
able geographical feature purely on scientific lines, it was hoped 
that such study would lead eventually to the development of in¬ 
dustries such as those mentioned by the speakers. 
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. 
Apologies were received from Capt. S. A. White, Dr. S. 
Roberts and Messrs. A. J. Campbell, A. J. Butler, C. Coles, Lewis, 
and A. C. V. Bligh. Miss Fletcher and Messrs. R. Hall, E. A. 
Le Souef and C. Lord sent greetings. 
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING. 
As these had been circulated in The Emu for January, 1924, 
they were, on the motion of Mr. Longman, taken as read and. 
adopted. 
BALANCE SHEET. 
In the absence of the Treasurer, Mr. Z. Gray, the balance sheet 
was read and its adoption moved by Mr. G. H. Barker (State 
Secretary).f The motion was seconded by Mr. Gates. Mr. 
Alexander spoke at some length on the Council’s method of 
handling the Coloured Figure Fund and its neglect to publish 
a separate balance sheet of the moneys received and expended 
under this fund. At the present time it was impossible for or¬ 
dinary members to know whether the fund was in credit or not, 
or whether the money was being used for other purposes. In 
consequence, he and others had ceased subscribing to it. 
He had raised this question at two previous annual meetings, 
and had written to the Council on the subject, but the position 
still existed. He moved therefore, that “This Conference directs 
the Council to keep a separate account of the Coloured Figure 
Fund and furnish a balance-sheet each year.” Mr. C. A. Bar¬ 
nard seconded the motion, which was also supported by Dr. 
Chenery. Dr. Leach stated that the Treasurer placed all miscel¬ 
laneous revenue to the credit of the only fund, other than sub- 
t The balance sheet is published on page 206.—Editor. 
