ACCLIMATISATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 215, 11 September 1931, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION.

SCIENTISTS' AID INVOKED.

FOUR SPECIALISTS CO-OPTED.

The old complaint that many acclimatisation societies were merely rod and <mn clubs under another name can De no longer held in the case of the more advanced societies. The Auckland Acclimatisation Society last evening gave further evidence of its desire to fulnl all its responsibilities. The meeting was called for the purpose of revising the rules to provide for the addition of foulsupernumerary members of the council of the association, or, in other words,_ of co-opting four scientists. The meeting approved the motion which was movad by the president, Mr. F. E. Mackenzie, and the four appointments specified were for an ichthyologist, a botanist and ornithologist and a biologist. It is hoped that Mr. R. A. Falla, of the Museum staff, will agree to act a3 ornithologist, and Mr. T. L. Lancaster, of the University staff, as botanist, and it is believed there should be no difficulty in getting equally suitable men to fill the other two positions.

It was pointed out in the discussion on the motion that North Canterburyhad a similar rule, and that it had been found very much to the advantage of the work. In the past societies had been twitted with only catering for the wants of the shooting men and fishing men, without sufficient regard for the native flora and fauna. It was the earnest desire of the society to thoroughly protect native bird and plant life, and it was felt that that aspect of its activities would be greatly assisted by co-opting the four scientists referred to in the new rule. When dealing with certain aspects of the work, scientific advice was essential. In Auckland there were men fully qualified to furnish that advice, and it was understood they would be willing to give their services. Their advice would give the public an assurance that the deliberations of the society were based on accurate knowledge, and that the wild life of the Dominion was being protected in the way that every true New Zealander would wish. The scientists would bring to the deliberations a fresh viewpoint, and they would doubtless introduce matters that might otherwise be overlooked—owing to the lack of the necessary scientific knowledge. It was thought the presence of scientists on the council would be viewed very favourably by the farmers, who had always been very friendly disclosed towards the society. Every question would be discussed, not merely from the sportsman's point of view, but from the point of view of the general interest of the Dominion.

The hope was expressed that other leading acclimatisation societies would also co-opt scientists to their councils and thus ensure that acclimatisation work throughout the Dominion would be co-ordinated on the lines that would best serve the interests of the country as a whole.