Advice To Conservationists

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32321, 12 June 1970, Page 19

Advice To Conservationists

(N.I. Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 10.

Conservation had a reasonable case that should be presented reasonably, according to the Parliamentary Un-der-Secretary to the Minister of Education (Mr Gair), speaking at a symposium, “Manapouri —what next?”, in Auckland. ,

' Conservationists should not exaggerate their case, or resort to extremism, Mr Gair Told the symposium. “By stirring the pot emotionally you can create shorter ’activity,” he said. “It is longterm public education that is called for.

“You cannot for long sustain the support of people unless you have won them over with a reasoned approach. “Conservation can be carried to ridicuio,..

Tremes.” he said. The contribution and needs of man had to be taken into account,

and man had to take precedence, even if it was a question of short-term survival. Mr Gair said that a choice between “birds, bees and ’shellfish” or man was not • convincing and would not win I support. I “There must be priorities in all things,” he said, : referring to the importance of considering the cost of achieving an end. If, for example, 99 per cent purity of water was satisfactory and

economic, achieving the last 1 per cent could cost a massive amount. Far more was involved than the Manapouri issue, he said: “Are we using our physical resources properly? Are we using our brain, brawn and technology responsibly? Do we appreciate man’s dependence upon limited resources close to the surface of the earth?” Because New Zealand’s community was more literate than most, more socially aware, and because of New Zealand’s relatively small

population, New Zealand held leadership in matters of the environment, he said.

“The question of the environment is not political,” said Mr Gair, “it is not a means to an end, but is the end.”

The public symposium was organised by the conservation sub-committee of the Auckland University Students’ Association in order to make factual information available to the public on matters connected with the environment and conservation.