NATIVE FLORA

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21226, 26 July 1934, Page 12

NATIVE FLORA

- ♦ I'KOTKC'TION RILL READ \ FIRST TIMK I from Our Parliamentary Reporter.! WELLINGTON, July 25. I.lore stringent safeguards against the spoliation of native flora arc provided in the Native Plants Protection Bill, which was introduced and read a tirst time in the House of Representatives to-day. It is proposed to invite those interested in the subject to express their views regarding the bill when the measure is before the Lands Committee. Copies of the bill are not yet available. but the Minister for Lands (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) explained its geneiii! tenor. He said representations had been made from time to time to the Government on the subject, and last session eight petitions were received praying for legislative action. The Government had decided to introduce a bill to afford an opportunity for a full discussion on the subject, and it was hoped that various societies and other bodies interested in native plant life would give evidence before the Lands Committee when the various clauses were being considered. The bill was really intended to suoplement: existing legislation dealing with Crown reserves. It would also give private land owners who wished to check vandalism on their properties more adequate legal protection than they now enjoyed. There was provision in the bill making it an offence to pick protected plants on roads and streeti, and this represented a considerable advance on the existing legislation, said the minister.