Suggestion for beech 'feeble'

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33062, 1 November 1972, Page 2

Suggestion for beech ' feeble '

tNeio Zealand Press Association)

GREYMOUTH, October 31.

Preservationists had shown just how offbeat and desperate they were in suggesting that West Coast beech forests would be better used as a base for tourism than for chip and wood pulp, said the M.P. for Westland (Mr P. Blanchfield).

Mr Blanchfield was com-’ menting on statements made this week by Coenco, the national alliance of conservation organisations. In letters to the Minister for the Environment (Mr MacIntyre) Coenco said that the

West Coast beech forests i should be used for tourism. “In effect, Coenco said that to use beech forests as a base for tourism would be better . than to turn waste beech into , employment for New Zea- . landers, and to earn overseas funds to bring in raw materials for other New Zealand industries,” said Mr Blanchfield. “Any tourist agency based on attracting tourists to travel through 6.5 m acres of beech forests, and to spend some of their pocket money ; at the same time, would be on the first rung of the bankruptcy ladder,” he said. ; “Tourists want something ; better than browsing through 1 beech reserves, when there ; are so many other attractions 1 available. I “The Labour Party policy ■ on beech forests and tourism 1 guarantees the retention of ; beautiful beech reserves I alongside the roads of Buller ‘ and North Westland,” said ; Mr Blanchfield. “It is a poor indication of the ideas held by preservationists when they issue such a feeble and inane statement, claiming that beech forests : would provide more financial gain if' used for tourism, ■ rather than for a pulp and , paper complex,’’ said Mr Blanchfield.