NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT

Forest and Bird, Issue 138, 1 November 1960, Page 5

NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT

Our Journal. For some time we have known that we should devote more space in the journal to junior members. As an experiment in . the August issue we put the least interesting items from the junior point of view in the four middle pages. In all copies issued to juniors these four middle pages were removed and four special pages for juniors substituted. This worked out cheaper than increasing the size of the journal, but it has disadvantages, for adults do not see the junior items, and children of adult members miss the junior items unless they are also members (in which case, of course, they would get their own copy). In an effort to overcome these disadvantages we have increased the November issue to twenty pages instead of the usual sixteen. This adds a good deal to printing costs but it has been made possible this year by a grant from the J. R. McKenzie Trust, to whom I am grateful. I invite those interested to write and tell us what they think about the new set-up. We may not be able to write a personal letter in reply to each one, but we shall certainly take note of all letters. Branches and sections. Seventeen branches and sections are operating in various parts of New Zealand doing very good work indeed. I have frequently reflected on the obvious need for sections in the Southland and Marlborough areas, and I should be very glad to hear from anyone prepared to take an interest

in forming such sections. There is need for a section in the Wairarapa district also. We shall give every assistance to getting sections established.

The speeding years. By the time you receive this the present year will be drawing to a close. It has been one of the busiest years in the annals of the Society. Here at Head Office we have done our best to secure the protection of birds and our remaining indigenous forests. Each year the area of virgin native forests gets less and the position of some of our birds more precarious. Ministers of the Crown recently reiterated that if nothing had been destroyed in this country no progress would have been made. There is reason in all things but I am quite unable to accept the destruction of the past as an excuse for continuing it indefinitely. There must be a point where those who love indigenous New Zealand shall stand firm and say, “Thus far and no furtheryou shall not proceed”. To those who have helped in any way this year, by recruiting members, by giving their time, by donating funds, and so on, I say thank you very much. I hope we shall be able to move onwards as an even bigger and better team next year. Until then, for the Council and Executive, Head Office staff and myself, I wish all members and friends a cheerful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. The President.