THE ZOO.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1171, 5 July 1911, Page 8

THE ZOO.

MR. LE SOEUF'S REPORT,

The report upon the N«\\town "Zoo," presented recently by Mr. A. L. Lo Soeuf, of. Sydney, has.never yet come- before, the, City Council in its entirety, but a fragment .was submitted last evening by way of sample. The Reserves Committec'roported :—

'That they had given consideration to Mr. Le Roeuf's report, aud had decided to use the same for future guidance in framing the policy lor the "Zoo." The committee had adopted the recommendation of Mr. Le Soeuf iu regard to the construction of a bear-pit at tho "Zoo."

Councillor-Barber rose in protest, "Is this the way in which such a report should be dealt with?" he inquired with heat. There were many suggestions iu Mi , . Lo Socuf's report, he continued, which should have been dealt with by tho council. It was establishing a.very bad precedent to deal with a report iu this way.

The Deputy-Mayor (Councillor .T. Smith) said the report had been presented for future guidance. The council could not well ndopt the report in its entirety. Effect had already been given to the, recommendation to cut down a number of .nine trees, especially around the lion's cage. Councillor Fitzgerald considered that the report, had been obtained in an attempt to palliate, the bad management of the Xewtowu Zoo. He did not think that. Mr. Le Soeuf's report contained any useful, suggestions. The Mayor had recently pro-' inised the council that an opportunity would be given it at a special meeting to discuss both Mr. Le Soenfs report and that of Mr. Richardson upon the tramways. It was not; right that any committee should deal with a report before it hart been discussed by Ihe' council,' He Mould inovn that the conimitieo's- Jβcommendation bo referred back, pending

Councillor Fuller said, in seconding Uk> motion, be did so on principle. The report should have been "gone into by tho council first, and then recommended to (he committee to consider." As a result of the procedure beiiiß followed, the report was in danger of being shclvwl. Councillor Frost paid every councillor bad been supplied with a copy of tho repovl. Also, it had appeared in tho public prrss. The committee had intiHKited that it would eivo effccl to tho report as far as possible. He was satisfied (hat in (his it had (Ik support, of a. majority of councillors and of (he public.

Councillor M'Laren remarked that tlio adoption of Ihe committee's recommendation need not hinder tho council from dealing with tho report as a whole wheneer it felt so inclined.

Councillor Barber contended that the report contained many valuable su.eeostions, which should bo given early effect to.

Eventually tho recommendation of tho uiimiiittce was approved on tho voices. .