Arthur’s Pass head attacks Govt ‘secrecy’

Press, 27 November 1980, Page 4

Arthur’s Pass head attacks Govt ‘secrecy’

The Arthur’s Pass National Park Board is angry about the secrecy surrounding the new National Parks Bill, which is in its second reading before Parliament.

“The origin of the bill is clearly the Lands and Survey Department’s desire to accomplish a take-over,’’ said Mr J. C. Montgomery, chairman of the board’s committee set up to deal with the bill. The bill proposes the transfer of the management and adminstration of parks to the department.

It received 400 opposing submissions, and was altered before the . second reading, reducing some of the power the Minister of Lands would have had, Mr Montgomery said. The national parks boards had never been consulted, he asserted.

The Government caucus committee that inquired into the parks’ administration did not meet the boards. It barred discussion with those who might have been expected to have something to contribute.

Mr Montgomery said that the Minister of Lands (Mr V. S. Young) had been “nit-picking” at things he was able to find wrong with the boards, actions that were “unquestionably” prompted by the Land's Department. "His disparaging remarks on petty matters sought to discredit boards in the public eye,” he said. • “It is on record that the National Party conference voted against transferring management to the department. The Labour Party is also against it. “The bill should go back to the select committee. The stigma of secrecy must be removed. The Lands Department must be made to state its case publicly, and the boards permitted to answer,” Mr Montgomery said.

“This board would be only too willing to cooperate in finding ways to improve the administration, but not as a part of the process we are now witnessing.” _____