VANDALISM IN PARKS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27308, 26 March 1954, Page 12

VANDALISM IN PARKS

MAGISTRATE ISSUES WARNING

“DIRE PUNISHMENT” FOR OFFENDERS

A warning that anybody who wantonly destroyed any trees, shrubs or plants in city parks or gardens would incur “dire punishment,” was given by Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. “For my part I propose to impose severe penalties on any persons doing destructive mischief or vandalism in any of the public domains,” he said. Two young men, Dutch nationals, Rinse De Jager v and Gerard De Ward, pleaded not guilty to charges that on December 23 they wilfully damaged trees to the extent of £l, the property of the reserves department of the Christchurch City Council. Each was convicted and fined £2.

Two caretakers of the Botanic Gardens, Mr J. A. C. Cole and Mr J. A. Harris, said that they were patrolling in North Hagley Park near Riccarton avenue when they saw two cyclists enter the park. A little later they heard chopping and upon investigation they found the defendants chopping off branches of several pine trees with a tomahawk. Mr M. J. Barnett, director of Parks and Reserves, said that in previous years the department had lost several valuable trees which had been taken from this small pine reserve. One of these trees had still not been replaced. In recent years the offences of cutting trees at Christnhas time was becoming more prevalent in all reserves. De Ward said they did not want to damage the trees. They went to the reserve because they knew rubbish was burned there and they did not think the trees were valuable. They had taken branches from only the bottom of the trees, and the caretakers said they had not damaged the trees unduly and that they could take the branches home.

“The city and park authorities are entitled to all the support they can get to prevent vandalism and destruction in public parks,” said the Magistrate. “A recent amendment to the Police Offences Act empowers the Court to impose a penalty of not more than three months’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding £5O on offenders. “Those minded to enter the Botanic Gardens or any of the city’s parks and reserves and do wanton damage to vegetation, shrubs or trees preserved for the enjoyment of the public, will meet with dire punishment if they appear in this Court,” he said. “In this case the damage was neither wanton nor reckless, but I don’t want the impression to get abroad that the Court will deal lightly with any others who come before this Court in a similar < position,” said the Magistrate.