THE ZOO.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 524, 3 June 1909, Page 6

THE ZOO.

V ..... - - 1 AN ABNORMAL MORTALITY, TWO MEN : TRANSFERRED. In-reference to "the, complaints regarding tho Zoo, tho Resorvos Committoo .reported ; as-fellows to the City Council last night: i "That, after thoroughly considering the do- . tails of tho management and control of the : Zoo, , thoy recommend- that no action at present bo taken in conncction with the matter." Councillor Luke, in moving the adoption of the recommendation, said that there had been some - little dissatisfaction with the management, and ho would not say that the I 'curator was altogetherfree from blame. The existing state of affairs was not at all creditable to the city, and tho committee, had removed' two men. The camo from -England, having no colonial experience, but lie was actuated by the best of motives. Ho bad-exhibited a lack of tact, but he had been Engaged for a certain period-of timo, and, as chairman of the committee, Councillor Luke declared that the matter had been gone into thoroughly. -' Ho wished to do justice to Mr! W. C; (Juinnell, veterinary surgeon, who made an inspection on behalf of the council, and he acted in a very fair way indeed, but the committee had to hold the scales of justioe, and he hoped the council would trust the.committee to do what was right. Councillor Frost was not satisfied with tho recommendation, and he entered a protest against tho. manner in which the animals had been destroyed.'. Councillor Devino: By whom? . Councillor Frost replied that, he was not prepared* to say,- but during tho past few weeks about, twenty birds and animals hadbeen removed from the Zoo to the museum. If this_ went on, they would require to make extensions to the mu spurn and to have no Zoo. Ho did not think tho blame should bo thrown on'the employees. . The additions to ,the museum from the Zoo referred, to by Councillor Frost were as follow:—Twelve penguins, one dingo, one pea<cock, one weka, one red deer, one hog deer, one emu, ono golden pheasant, two eagles, two iguanas, one swan, and two Australian parakeets.; . • Councillor Fitzgerald: The committee recommends that two men be discharged.— Councillor Luke: No; transferred. Councillor Fitzgerald: Well, .transferred; but that does not alter the case. We want to know why these men were removed. Wo know that the mortality among the inmates of.the Zoo has been very heavy, and I thiol the committee should take the council'into its confidence and state the exact position. The people want to know why Mr. Quinnell was instructed to furnish a report. Mr. Luke should not tell us there was dissatisfaction, ;-and.then take no action. , , Councillor Fletcher said it would be inr I .advisable; to give the information in- open council.. Ho had no objection to the information being given-in committee. SoJTTe very serious statements had been made in regard to tho Zoo, which had not been substantiated. - . ' . - : Councillor' Shirtcliffe said that conflicting statements had been made about. the matter." Be thought that it would take too long for the-council-to consider the subject in committee that evening. By altering the position of certain officials, tie committee had' removed friction that had previously existed. . ■Councillor Cohen said it would take a whole evening to" enlighten, members fully oil the question. Councillor Hindmarsh said that if the motion' to go into, committee were opposed, he would be forced to " give notice of motion that the curafor -be dismissed. A motion to go into committee was adopted. / On resuming, after more than half an hour's discussion, it was'reported that the committee's recommendation had been adopted. -,I