Conservation Department

Press, 21 July 1988, Page 12

Conservation Department

Sir,—While D. J. Round and P. H. C. Lucas (July 14) may blithely rationalise the Department of Conservation as the lone advocate within the Government for conservation, business closings and redundancies snowball daily. Our Government and our country sink ever-deeper into debt. Yesterday’s living standards now seem unattainable. Yet a small group of conservation lobbyists indulge in the luxury of a Government department that controls a third of New Zealand and, through the Conservation Act, is committed to merely “preserving and conserving natural resources.” The Department of Conservation now overspends a SIOOM budget of our money. The Government seems to think that conquering inflation and lowering interest rates is a sufficient recipe for future prosperity. Not so, while innovators with the capacity to create new business and generate employment are continually being stymied by bureaucratic overkill and do-nothing protesters. — Yours, etc., COLIN H. ALDRIDGE. July 14, 1988.

Sir,—Who is Michael Browne (July 18) to know what would be a “wonderful asset to ... Arthur’s Pass residents”? Generally, residents and bach-holders who use Arthur’s Pass regularly feel that any development at Bealey is out of character with the area and that projects of this sort should be where settlement is already present. We have many assets which enhance our area. For example, chalet restaurant, store and tearooms, motels, craft shop, park headquarters, Y.H.A., railway station and club huts which offer a varied range of accommodation and amenities, more than ample to meet current needs. As to a tavern next to the store, surely it is better to have such a facility within walking distance of the majority of users to negate drinking and driving and be used by the many visitors, some of whom arrive daily on the Tranz-Alpine Express. Many of the residents have had a very long association with Arthur’s Pass and have an aesthetic sense just as well developed as those mentioned. — Yours, etc., J. O. and J. F. CHARLES, P. L. and E. CHANDLER, M. McNAMEE, B. TAYLOR, NICK McCABE, S. P. LASSCHE, M. M. LASSCHE, B. J. COMERFORD, L. J. COMERFORD, H. BOHNY, C. J. and B. P. REID, T. REEVES, J. WILSON, T. WILSON, J. W. A. CARROLL, R. P. HUDSON, MARK and DI DAVIES. July 18,1988.