OUR NATIONAL PARKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 162, 11 July 1925, Page 14

OUR NATIONAL PARKS.

• EXTENSION OF THE WORK. Much more is done with national parks in the United States and Canada than is done in New Zealand with similar areas. The New Zealand Tourist League, a body which has already done good work in connection with the tourist traffic, is now agitating for the formation of a National Parks' Conservation Board on lines-similar to bodies that have done excellent work in America and Canada, New Zealand the Scenery Preservation Commissioners have done excellently for many years, but the time has arrived when its scope should be widened. In -order to secure the best membership the league is advocating a board comprising representatives of the Lands Department, the Forestry Department, the Public Works Department, the Tourist Department (one from each department), one appointed by the Governor-in-Council, and two representatives appointed by the New Zealand Institute. Following the lines of similar bodies in other countries where they have been a great success, this board's duties would include the supervision and control of national parks and reserves; the preservation of scenery, bush land and historic sites in the Dominion; the allocation of camping sites and picnic ground for motorists and visitors; tho protection of forest areas from fire; the encouragement of gifts of land from private individuals and associations; and the publication of booklets, etc., showing attractions of the parks and means of access. Speaking, generally, it may be said that the board would supervise parks and other national areas, encourage the extension of parks where necessary, and the securing of further areas, particularly sites and buildings connected with New Zealand's early history. The board would also press for an increased appropriation which would enable it to make improvements and carry out urgent maintenance in some of the valuable parks and reserves which have hitherto been untouched owing to lack of funds.