CENTENNIAL PARK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 63, 15 March 1944, Page 3

CENTENNIAL PARK

SCIENTIFIC INTEREST WIDER CONTROL URGED A deputation of scientific and other interests submitted to the Auckland Centennial Memorial Park Board yesterday a proposal that such interests should be directly' represented on the board.

The board decided that the proposal be referred to the nine local bodies which had contributed financially to the maintenance of the park.

The interests represented were the Auckland Institute and Museum, the Auckland University College, the Royal New Zealand ' Institute of Horticulture, the Auckland Horticultural Society, the Alpine Sports Club, and the Auckland Tramping Club. Mr. E. Vaile represented donors of lands and funds for the park.

The spokesman for the deputation, Mr. W. H. Cocker, said they did not come in a spirit of criticism, but of helpfulness. He said that there were several problems of maintenance on which members of scientific organisations could advise the board. It was suggested that the legislation be amended to allow two additional members of the board to be elected by the members of the governing bodies. It was also proposed that one representative of the donors of more than £50 be appointed on the nomination of the Minister of Lands.

Mr. Cocker added that the practice of seeking advice on maintenance from a botany sub-committee of coopted botanical and horticultural experts was hardly sufficient. He said that such questions as the removal of certain parts of the bush, and the care of valuable trees and plants would need direct advice from scientific experts. He added that if there were one or two such members on the board their views could be stated directly, instead of being mere recommendations on scientific grounds.

The chairman, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, said that nine of the board's eleven members were representatives of elected public bodies, and the difficulty would be to alter legislation which was based on the principle that public funds should be spent by elected representatives of the people. He said that the board thought the difficulty could be overcome by coopting members to sub-committees, without the right to vote.

Mr. E. Vaile said that representation of donors would greatly benefit the project, especially in financial matters.