TREE PLANTING

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21967, 16 December 1936, Page 12

TREE PLANTING

CORONATION PROPOSAL

ROADSIDE BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION'S PLAN

The inauguration of a scheme of tree-planting throughout Canterbury, as a commemoration of the Coronation of the King in 1937, was suggested in the annual report presented at the meeting of the Canterbury Roadside Beautifying Association yesterday. The report was presented by the Deputy-Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews), who presided at the meeting. The report stated that such a Coronation-year planting scheme would be a proper gesture of loyalty to the Throne, and a permanent token and appreciation of what was owed by New Zealanders to the British Empire and to those who had ruled over it. The executive of the association was satisfied that the King would greatly appreciate such an object as a commemoration of his coronation. It would be permanent and of great benefit to all who used the roads throughout the province in present and in future generations. • If such a project were approved, however, it should be not merely local, but national. As the Government was now. considering treeplanting and beautifying the roads, and would call a conference of local bodies and organisations interested with the intention of preparing and organising a general scheme, it was felt that the proposal for commemorating the Coronation in this way was appropriate. If the scheme was approved by the association it should be placed before the Minister. It was encouraging to know from the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) that the work of roadside beautifying was going to be taken up by the Government. Already a preliminary conference of departmental officials had been held, and a further conference was being held shortly, when representatives of beautifying associations, horticultural societies, and other organisations would be invited to attend. The Minister had been advised of the aims and the work of the association, and had congratulated the association on what it was doing. The association would be asked to send a representative to the conference. Mr Andrews said that the association should co-operate with organisations having related aims, such as the Summit Road Public Trust, and the Christchurch Beautifying Association. The primary aim of the association was roadside beautifying, of which no province was in greater need than Canterbury. Some of the counties had done a great deal in this direction, Ashburton being an example. Private land-owners were also doing a great deal. Planting had to be judiciously done to see that the view was not spoiled. The association needed much more money than it now had if it was to carry out its objects. It had to get the people interested in the work. Dr. T. Fletcher Telford, who seconded the adoption of the report, said that now that the farmers were having better times something more might be achieved. The report was adopted.