NATIONAL PARK PROPOSAL

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23086, 31 July 1940, Page 7

NATIONAL PARK PROPOSAL

♦ LINKING EXISTING RESERVES A proposal for a new southern national park, linking up the Eglinton valley area. with the Tasman area at Mount Cook, was discussed by the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand at a meeting in Wellington. This new park would comprise the principal alpine areas between the existing national parks, and would lie in Otago, Westland, and South Canterbury. The Otago section of the New Zealand Alpine Club submitted a detailed map of the area, showing the boundaries of unalienated Crown lands which it was considered should be included in the proposed national park, and other Crown lands which it would be. desirable to add to the area with the consent of -the lessees or as the leases expired. Mr G: G. Lockwood (president of the federation) said that if a national park was created as suggested, the only gap remaining in the main Southern Alps chain would Ife between the Tasman and Arthur’s Pass Parks, and this should provide an opportunity for the Canterbury clubs to go closely into the position with a view to drawing up a map showing what lands ‘could be available for the creation of a similar national park in that aistrict. The meeting reaffirmed the general policy of the federation for the setting up of a national controlling authority for national parks; the individual parks to be controlled by local boards.