No ‘protection’ in parks bill

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 10

No ‘protection’ in parks bill

PA Wellington The Minister of Lands (Mr V. S. Young), had shown “scandalous disregard” for the protection of national parks, according to Dr Hugh Barr, the chairman of the Environment and Conservation Organisation. "The new National Parks Bill, introduced by the Minister, contains, no curb on what the Minister of Lands is allowed to do

to a national park, Dr Barr said. “One clause would even allow him to direct the Parks’ Authority to disregard the preservation ethic fundamental to national parks. This would be tantamount to directing the authority to break the law.” Such Ministerial power to over-rule legislation was reminiscent of powers taken by Government under the National Development Act, Dr Barr said; "The bill also jeopardises the scientific and conservation purpose of national parks,” he said. “A new authority is to be set up, and yet only two of the 10 members will necessarily have scientific or conservation knowledge. Not one of the seven Ministerial appointees is required to have an interest in naitonal parks. "The Minister, through

his bill, shows a strange lack of awareness of the international and scientific importance of our parks. This lack can only be detrimental to their management,” Dr Barr said.