MUSEUM DIRECTOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 285, 1 December 1936, Page 11

MUSEUM DIRECTOR.

AUCKLANDER CHOSEN. MR. R. A. FALLA HONOURED. CANTERBURY SELECTION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. One of the Dominion's most noted ornithologists, Mr. R. A. Falla, M.A., assistant director of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, was appointed director of the Canterbury Museum to-day by the Canterbury College Council, on the 'recommendation of its museum and library committee. Mr. Falla, who is only 35 years of age, will take up on 1 the position vacated last year by Professor R. Speight. Twenty-four applications were received for the position. Three were from the United Kingdom, five from New Zealand, three from Australia, four from other parts of the British Empire and nine from the United States. Born at Palmerston North, Mr. Falla received his primary education at Invercargill. He entered the Auckland Grammar School with a Junior National Scholarship and on leaving school at the end of 1918, he spent two years in commercial work, and attended evening lectures and laboratory classes in zoology at Auckland University College, tinder Professor J. C. Sperrin-Johnston. He joined the teaching profession in 1921 as a student at the Auckland Training College, and in 1924 he completed his degree of Bachelor of Arts, winning a senior scholarship in education.

Mr. Falla graduated M.A. in 1925, when he was relieving lecturer in general science and nature study at the Auckland Training College. From 192G _to 1929 he was lecturer in nature study and education at the college, and from 1029 to 1931 he served as assistant zoologist and ornithologist with the British, Australian and New Zealand Antractic research expedition under the leadership of Sir Douglas Mawson. This involved two journeys to the Antarctic. Subsequently he was awarded the Polar Medal, in bronze, for his work on thia expedition, which was highly praised by Sir Douglas, who described his memoir on the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic birds as an outstanding work. An appointment as ornithologist and education officer at the Auckland War Memorial Museum was obtained by Mr. Falla in 1930, and in 1935 he became assistant director of the institution.

Researches have been carried out by Mr. Falla at museums in Wellington, Christchurcli, Dunedin, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Durban and Capetown. Most of his research has been in ornithology, but he has also had practical experience in marine biology, having spent 10 months in laboratory and deck routine on the Discovery, and also made cruises on the Royal Danish research ship Dana in 1929, and the Discovery 11. in 1932. Mr. Falla also accompanied Dr. Raymond Firth on a field expedition to the Urewera, and is a foundation member and past chairman of the anthropology and Maori racc section of the Auckland Institute. He is the author of several papers on New Zealand seabirds, and other subjects.