OUR VOLCANIC HILLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 4 October 1927, Page 6

OUR VOLCANIC HILLS.

The thanks of the community are due to the Auckland Town Planning Association for the efforts that it is now making to rescue our volcanic hills from absolute destruction. Mr. G. S. Keesing, of Sydney, in the course of his lecture on town planning last night, expressed surprise and regret that the people of Auckland should continue to tolerate this vandalism, and lie observed-that in other countries cities much further removed than Auckland from supplies ■of road metal have resisted the temptation to sacrifice the beauty of their surroundings to commercial considerations.

Professor Knight put the case for our volcanie hills admirably by pointing out that their histoHeal and geological interest, their natural beauty, and their value as breathingspaces and public resorts constitute a claim upon our consideration that we cannot afford to disregard. Unfortunately the Government >iwb refused to give a lead in this matter —as witness the obstinate persistence of the Bailway Department in despoiling Mount Albert in spite of reiterated public protests. But there is a great deal to be gained by creating and encouraging a strong body of public opinion on this important question, and it is to be hoped that the appeal made by the Town Planning Association to the > local-authorities to protect the volcanie hills will-have a practical effect.