Urban environment as special week’s theme

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32977, 25 July 1972, Page 11

Urban environment as special week’s theme

National Conservation Week, which will begin on Friday, will be devoted, in Christchurch, to improvement of the environment, to letting the public know what various organisations are doing in this field, and to showing that “conservation is the concern of everybody.” "Conservation Week is to publicise and promote local action,” said Mr R. D. Dick’ chief soil conservator of the North Canterbury Catchment

Board, who is chairman of a committee set up from 20 conservation and other interested volunteer groups in Christchurch.

The committee, said Mr Dick, had been planning the week for three months, and had been helped by local bodies, government departments and the business community.

“Conservation is the daily concern of all people, and not just a task for big business or local bodies,” said Mr Dick. “We want to capture and convey the desire and the will to improve all aspects of the environment, and not only the physical anatomy of the city.’ Primary and secondary schools had been asked to take part by arranging activities to make students more aware of the environmental needs of their schools, said Mr Dick. A highlight of the week would be the meeting on the Christchurch urban environment in the Civic Theatre next Monday evening.

“In New Zealand, with comparatively few people, many environmental problems are not as serious yet as in older, more heavily populated industrialised countries,” he said. “The warning is clear. Problems with us include soil erosion, fire, flooding, the pollution of water, an insufficient supply of water, pollution of the air, the lack of spacious park land with tall trees and recreational space for the people of an expanding city. “The slogan of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment was ■Only One Earth.’ We hope the Christchurch week will succeed in conveying the importance of that phrase to the people of Christchurch.” Mr Dick gave these details of the main events of the week in Christchurch:— SATURDAY, JULY 29

Eco-action afternoon and rock concert (arranged by Ecology Action). If fine, outside Students’ Association building, university town site; if wet, Foresters’ Hall, 1.30 p.m.-4 p.m. Activities will include a second-hand re-cycling stall, a health. food stall, a stall selling ecology posters and magazines, guerrilla theatre and ecology displays. Distribution of painted and labelled refuse bins tor Ellesmere county picnic grounds, at S M. Auton and Sons, Maces (Arranged by the North Canterbury Game Shooters’ Club). Road, Bromley, in the morning.

SUNDAY, JULY 30 Planting of pin oak trees at Harts Creek wild-life refuge, 10 a.m. (Arranged by the North Canterbury Game Shooters* Club). MONDAY, JULY 31 Public meeting on the Christchurch urban environment, Civic Theatre, 8 p.m. The programme includes an environmental film, guest speaker, Sir Malcolm Burns, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr N. G. Pickering), the chairman of the Regional Planning Authority (Mr D. B. Rich), the chairman of the North Canterbury Catchment Board and Regional Water; Board (Dr W. R. Holmes), the chairman of the Christchurch Drainage Board (Mr M. R. Carter), and Mr P. Williams, who attended the United Nations conference on the human environment at Stockholm. (Arranged by the Christchurch Urban Environment Week Committee) .

TUESDAY, AUGUST 1 "Health and Air Pollution.” Speaker, Dr J. A. McLeod. One of a series of lectures on combustion efficiency and air pollution, arranged by the department of extension studies, University of Canterbury', 26 Gloucester Street. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2

Air pollution seminar. Speakers, Mr G. Daly, lecturer in agricultural science; Mr P. Neary, Clean Air Society; Professor M. Kennedy, professor of chemical engineering; and Mr A. P. Ryan, airport meteorological officer. Room D, university town site, 8 p.m. (Arranged by Ecology Action).

Best possible means of combatting pollution. Panel discussion. W.E.A. Centre, 59 Gloucester Street, 8 p.m. (Arranged by National Council of Women). Arbor Day. Tree planting.

FRIDAY, AUOUST 4 "Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment,” lecture, Mr P. Williams, science lecture block, university, Ham, 8 p.m. (Arranged by the Canterbury Botanical Society).

SATURDAY, AUGUST 5 "Clean New Zealand Day.” Under the auspices of the scouts, girl guides, Nature Conservation Council and the National Anti-litter Council, Saturday, August 5. has been designated "Clean New Zealand Day?* The object is to have a massive clean-up of litter from public places. Anti-litter song contest, results to be published on August 5. (Arranged by Christchurch Boys’ High School Interact Club). Experimental junk playground, Wainoni Park, 9 a.m. to noon. Packing cases, old timber and assorted material will be deposited at the park and about 70 children in the nine-10 age group from the Aranui School will be invited to do their thing. Play leaders, observers and firstaid will be provided. (Arranged by the Family Life Council, Playground Advisory Committee). Estuaries and their problems, full day seminar. The aim is to show the importance of estuaries for biological, economic and recreational purposes and the consequences of the demands man makes upon them. Room SI, university, Ham, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to 18.30 p.m. A registration fee of $1 is being charged. Members of the public who wish to attend the seminar should write to Estuaries Seminar, Ecology Action, P.O. Box 169, Christchurch, enclosing the $1 registration fee, or telephone Mr R. Lakeland, 75-987. (Ar* ranged by Ecology Action). Urban environment walks, 10 a.m., leaves from United Tennis Club in North Hagiey Park. The distance involved is about ope mile and a half, the time involved about two hours. The route will cover three historic sites, four noteworthy buildings, statues and trees.

2 p.m., assemble on Avon River bank between Cambridge Terrace, Hereford and Cashel Streets. The distance is about three-quarters of a mile and the time about two hours. The route will cover three historic sites, four notable buildings, statues and stone monuments. Both walks are under the auspices of the Canterbury regional committee of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Commentaries will be given. Tree planting. Skellerup’s reserve, near the Sign of the Kiwi. 11 am. (Arranged by the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society).

Kindergarten teachers.— A two-day in-service training course for Christchurch kindergarten teachers will be held on Friday and Saturday. The course topic is "Music and Movement”. The course will be conducted by Mrs E. Shannan, of Wellington, and Miss A. Galding, from Wellington Teachers’ College.