17. Use of Word "Aborigines"

(from "Chairman's Report of the Fourteenth Meeting")


At the Thirteenth Meeting the Danish Commissioner had pointed out to the Technical Committee that, as far as Greenland was concerned, the reference to "aborigines" was inappropriate. The reconsideration of this word in paragraph 2 of the Schedule was therefore put on the agenda of the Commissions' Fourteenth Meeting. As a result of the consequent discussion the Commission felt unable to reach a decision on amending Paragraph 2 of the Schedule until the next Annual Meeting. In the meantime they decided on action in three directions, namely:
(i)
that Denmark and any other interested countries should be asked to provide the Commission with an estimate of the effect on gray and right whales if the species were taken for consumption locally as human and animal food rather than being confined to local consumption by aborigines.
(ii)
The Scientific Committee is asked to consider the effect if the use of the product of these whales were to be widened in this way.
(iii)
In the light of this information the Secretary is asked to draft a suitable amendment to Paragraph 2 of the Schedule for the consideration of the Commission at its next meeting.

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