STEWART ISLAND

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30405, 2 April 1964, Page 14

STEWART ISLAND

Holiday Role Predicted

Stewart Island was unique, partly because of its history and partly because it was one of the remaining relatively large areas almost completely untouched by civilisation, said Professor G. A. Knox, professor of zoology at the University of Canterbury at a meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand last evening.

Speaking on his recent visit to the island, Professor Knox said there were only about 26 miles of roads and as many vehicles, mainly in the region around Half Moon Bay. “I hope this will be all the reading on the island,” he said. Discussing the future of Stewart Island, Professor Knox said that fishing would continue to be the mainspring of the economy. As far as he could see the areas designated as State forests would never produce trees of any consequence, while land farming was fairly primitive. Old sheep were shot as there was no other method of disposal.

He considered that because of the difficulty of access to most parts of the island, ordinary tourists would not be interested in long stays. The island’s future role would be that of recreation mainly for trampers interested in nature; and for scientific research into its flora and fauna with emphasis on the varied marine types.

Surgery for PresidentPresident Ayub Khan of Pakistan was operated on for a hernia today. His progress is satisfactory and he will be able to leave hospital shortly. —Karachi, March 31.