Roading Engineers Censured

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29798, 14 April 1962, Page 13

Roading Engineers Censured

(Frbm Our Own Reporter} TIMAdU, April 13. Reading engineers generally were censured at the annual meeting of the New Zeeland Farm Forestry Association at the Bay Tea-rooms on Thursday evening.

Local authorities took no thought in preserving any beauty that might exist along the highways: they delighted in mutilating it, said Mr A. McKay (Duvauchelle). He was commenting on a paper in which the superintendent of reserves. Timaru (Mr R. S. Scott) said that in con. sidering roadside amenity planting it must be realised that the engineers designed and constructed roads solely for the purpose of carrying traffic from one point to another as quickly and efficiently as possible. Mr McKay suggested that the association should have a voice in the design of the highways.. The peninsula had been mutilated by engineers, local bodies, Post Office—all were guilty—and the association should take a stand, in a quiet, subtle, and effective way, he said. Another speaker said it was time the local authorities "had their wings cut,” that they ruined anything they could lay their slashers on. A voice: And the New Zealand Electricity Depart, ment.

It was suggested to the conference that a letter be sent

to the departments concerned "deploring the damage from erosion and scouring on the landscaipe,” and recommending that suitable plantings be carried out in future to avoid such "misdemeanours.”

However, some delegates felt that this wording was too strong, militant, and intimidating, and a motion recommending that a letter be sent on the lines suggested was withdrawn. The general consensus was that there should be a ’’more gentle” approach in the way of discussions with the various departments, and that if this did not succeed over a period of three months, then a letter could be sent. It was pointed out that the Nature Protection Council should be approached, as this organisation had “put the break on the engineers” in order to prevent the defacing of the scenery.