ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 177, 21 April 1924, Page 11

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

A meeting of the executive council of the Wellington Zoological Society was heH last week. Mr. Fathers, J.P., the president of the society, presided. The secretary, Mr. John Castle, read several letters that had been received from the High Commissioner, Sir James AUen, which, with other important correspondence, were duly discussed. The meeting approved of what had. been done in effecting insurances on the lite and good behaviour of the tiger that is expected from Calcutta. The secret ary reported that the Wellington City Council -'was arranging for Mr. Langridgo to take charge of the tiger on its arnval at Auckland, and to bring it on to Wellington. The society approved also of arrangements the secretary had made to assist the City Council to purchase some animals in Africa. After the meeting of the executive a meeting of the society was held. The Rev. Hr. Pinfold gave a very interesting report 'of his visit to England, and spoke very highly of the manner in which he was treated by Mr. Massey (the Prime Minister of New Zealand), Sir James Allen. Sir Lionel Halsey, and other gentlemen with whom while in England he -"as associated in furthering the interesls of the Wellington Zoological Society. The president, the secretary, Mr. Worth and Mr. Crewes all spoke very highly of Dr. Pinfold’s interest in and splendid services to the society. Dr. Pinfold eulogised the Auckland Zoo. Mr. Crewes replied, stressing the importance of quality rather than quantity of zoo exhibits, and contended that on this condition Wellington Zoo compared well with several larger institutions that he mentioned. It was mentioned that Auckland raised a loan of J135.C00 to start its zoo. Mr. Crewes suggested that Dr. Pinfold should be asked to wait on the Wellington City Council and propose that the council should raise a loan of .£17,500, or one-half of .£35,000, and then see what a zoo Wellington would provide. Dr. Pinfold respectfully declined the honour. Mr. Crewes reminded the meeting that when Wellington Zoo was started the Press of the city contended that £lOOO per annum was too large a vote to start our zoo with, and that Auckland, when asked: to accept an aquarium, . would not touch a zoo, oven with a long stick, before the members of the "Wellington Zoological Society educated the people of Auckland to feel tho desirability of a zoo in a public garden. A very happy meeting concluded with expressions of hope for ’'Wellington Zoo and good wishes for Auckland.