NEW ZEALAND FORESTS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 307, 23 September 1926, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND FORESTS

PLEA FOR PRESERVATION A VISITOR’S IMPRESSION "It would be a very sad thing indeed if you allowed your beautiful virgin forests to become extinct, like some of your birds,” said the Hon. Lady. Cecil, C.8.E., a distinguished visitor, when interviewed by a dominion reporter yesterday. Ladv Cecil, who is a keen botanist, is the author of “The Historv of Gardening in England,” a publication which earned for her the freedom of the gardens of London, a unique distinction.

“I had always been particularly keen to see the flora of New Zealand,” Lady Cecil stated. “You see, I had heart! so much about your wonderful country. When the director of Kew heard I was coming out he was quite envious of me. He is very interested in New Zealand flora.”

Arriving at Auckland, Lady Cecil motored down to Wellington. She was greatlv impressed with the country, the like of which, she said, she had never dreamt of seeing. Yesterday, accompanied bv Dr. Cockavne, she visited Wilton’s Bush and Wainui-o-mata. "You have wonderful forests,” she said. "It seems a pitv that vou should destroy them. The New Zealand Government, I think, is wise in preserving parts of vour forests. I think botanists and all lovers of nature will appreciate that. We have no such beauty in England. What vou regard here as almost a common weed is a thing of beauty to us. For the sake of posterity I trust vou will preserve your natural beauties.” ( Asked for her opinion of Wilton’s Bush, Ladv Ceci! described it as being "a glorious botanical garden at the verv doors of the citv ” There was an excellent foundation there, she said, for the preservation of the district’s natural beauties, as well as flora from all parts of the Dominion. "Would I be in favour of introducing exotic plants ? No. certainly not. That would be a thousand pities.” Heather for instance, was all right, she said, but it would spoil the native reserves. and in time would destroy the plants. “Yon sav the Director of Kew is interested in what we are doing in New Zealand?” asked the pressman.'“Yes.” replied Ladv Cecil. "T can assure vou Dr. Cockavne’s and Mr. McKenzie’s work is being verv cToselv watched Your Wilton’s Bush scheme is something ttnioue. It is a step, as I have said, that will be appreciated throughout the world. It is an example to others.” Ladv Cecil, who is accompanied F>«her daughter, left for Picton last night She intends motoring through the South Island, and will return to Wellington towards the end of the week, and sail for Sydney by the Tahiti.