CLOSING A RESERVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 211, 3 September 1920, Page 4

CLOSING A RESERVE.

The danger to public rignt Involved in encroachments on public reserves ia well exemplified by what '.-•as happened at Rotorua, The Kins; Ueorge Military liospital was built in the IPukcrja reserve, which is the only hu\ park near Rotorua and therefore much appreciated by the public. According to the Maori-, Pu'keroa was a free gift from the natives for all time, for a recreation ground and park, and the public right of entry is therefore indisputable. 'But the reserve canre under tho control of t)he hospital authorities, who made regulations for public traffic through it, and ultimately on the ground that these regulations had been broken, closed its gates, except on stated days. 'Die commandant of the Qioapital complains of "acts of vandalism and petty thefts, ,, and we have no doubt that : he acted to the best of Ihis judgment. His explanation to the Rotonia. Choniber of f , imieree is eourteoue and tactful, am. no is ?a:d to have told a deputation tJha-t now that his dilliculty had been made known, and publiu assistance would doubtless be. given him, the people 'would no longer be excluded. But this, thorrgh satisfactory, does jiot affect the principle at stake. This case shows that it is possible for the military autlwwities to estaiblirfh a hospital in a frequented reserve, a-nd then exclude the public from the area. It shows that in the preservation </f public reseires and rights thereto, eternal vigilance is the price of safety. Tlve tides of various interests will keep trying to break in, and the community must look to its sea walls.