Public-Spirited Bequests

Forest and Bird, Issue 55, 1 February 1940, Page 15

Public-Spirited Bequests

The Forest and Bird Protection Society has been promised a bequest from one of its prominent members in order to establish the nucleus of a trust fund for the purpose of purchasing and maintaining sanctuaries for the preservation of New Zealand’s forest and bird life. It is suggested tentatively that the Executive of this Trust should be a board of four persons (not necessarily members of the Society), appointed by the managing committee of the Forest and Bird Protection Societyone to retire annually but to be eligible for re-appointment.

The caretaker would be appointed by the Board. Sanctuaries would be for the preservation of the flora and fauna native to the district where the sanctuary is situated.

The elimination of all exotics as far as possible.

No collecting to be permitted except for the purpose of re-distribution and then only with the unanimous approval of the Board and the Minister under whom conservation in New Zealand is being directed.

No introduction of any plant, bird, or any creature not known to have previously occurred on the area.

There must be many people in New Zealand desirous of contributing by bequest or otherwise to the Trust, and it is therefore hoped that the proposal will assume nation-wide proportions. Where a contribution is sufficient to purchase an area and maintain a warden it is permissable for the donor to request that the sanctuary shall be named after him.