202 
Annual Congress 
The Emu 
Jan. 
photographs of the Emu and Wedge-tail Eagle, and practically 
illustrated the life-history of these shy birds. 
On May 16th, 1924, Mr. Norman Chaffer exhibited a collection 
of his lantern slides. Mr. Chaffer is perhaps the youngest promi¬ 
nent nature photographer in Australia; and his work compares 
with that of any of the older photographers. The slides shown 
were of a high standard. Mr. Chaffer received the congratula¬ 
tions of the members present. 
On June 20th, 1924, Mr. Tom lredale delivered a short lecture 
on Wrens ( Malums ) and exhibited specimens lent by the Aus¬ 
tralian Museum authorities. Mr. 1 redale drew attention to the 
two distinct groups, the “Blues” and “Reds.” He explained that 
in his opinion Malums melanocephalus was a separate genus. He 
dealt principally with the literature on the group and gave some 
interesting theories on the evolution of the various species. A 
specimen of the White-backed Wren (Malums leuconotus) col¬ 
lected by Mr. E. G. Troughton, 30 miles east of Farina, S.A., 
which Mr. I redale considered re-established the species, was 
exhibited. 
Mr. G. H. Barker, State Secretary for Queensland, was wel¬ 
comed by the Section at the meeting held on May 16th, 1924. He 
outlined the intentions of the Queensland members regarding 
the forthcoming congress. 
Members of the Section have reason to congratulate themselves 
on the success of their proposal to establish permanent camps in 
National Park. After protracted delays, at a special meeting 
convened by the Section, to which members of kindred societies 
were invited, a scheme was submitted and co-operation enlisted 
to approach the trustees of the National Park for permission to 
establish a station and outposts in the Park to be used as observa¬ 
tion posts to carry out a biological survey of that area. Mr. 
Frank Farnell, chairman of the Trust, attended the meeting, and 
gave the scheme his support. He offered on behalf of the Trust 
the use of a six-roomed stone cottage, free of rent, situated at 
Gundimaiian, as headquarters, and promised help in the erection 
of the outposts. I his offer was cordially accepted. A committee, 
the guests of Mr. Farnell, who proved himself an ideal host, 
spent a week-end at the Park, and inspected the cottage, and 
also made a preliminary selection of sites for outposts. 
4 he matter will be completed immediately, and members will 
be able to avail themselves of the accommodation provided by 
the trustees of the Park. 
Members are invited to help the committee by influencing their 
friends to join the Section, and country members are cordially 
invited to attend the Section’s meetings, which are held every 
third Friday in each month. 
After the report had been received and adopted, the meeting 
gave close consideration to several questions of policy in respect 
of the R.A.O.U. One of these matters was the proposed decen¬ 
tralisation of Council activities by giving Council members in 
