DAMAGE IN PARK

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 7

DAMAGE IN PARK

Introduction of Trout For Chateau Visitors OPPOSITION EXPRESSED Opposition to the introduction of foreign animals and trout into the Tongariro National Park was expressed at the annual meeting of the Royal Society of New Zealand in Wellington yesterday in a report by the society s representative on the Tongariro National Park Board.

Mr. B. C. Aston, reporting for the board, drew attention to a report of Mr. C. M. Smith, a member of the society, which dealt with exotic trees planted in that portion of the park which was included when the boundaries were extended. He mentioned the possibility of eliminating them, but stressed the greater menace of the heather, and stated that it was spreading freely in the tussock grasslands in the northeast corner of the park. Mr. Aston continued: “The introduction of foreign plants is bad enough, but it is a past sin. What is one to think of the recent introduction of trout fry into the streams of the park which has been permitted by a great majority of the votes of the board? A further application for the introduction of more fry is to come up at. the next meeting. “The introduction of foreign animals into the park is strictly against this society's policy. The excuse for so doing is that the trout may prove an additional attraction to the Chateau's visitors. On the other hand, the trout cannot fail to destroy the native fish in the streams, which are also an attraction to naturalist visitors to the park. 1 consider that there is groat danger that the welfare of the Chateau and its economic success may be placed before the welfare of the national park.” In the report of the honorary warden. Mr. J. Cullen, it was stated: “Native wild life is fast disappearing from the north-west side of the park owing to swarms of cats, which have gone wild, which now infest it, as well as the damage done by stoats and weasels, which are also numerous there. Tnis, which used to be plentiful there some years ago, are now rarely seen or heard there.” The warden also regretted that, although the park had been free from fire during the last year, in the past the tussock fires had so seriously damaged or destroyed isolated patches of bush that these had now disappeared at Moturoa.

The report, was adopted. Dr. AV. R. B. Oliver reported that the growth of vegetation on Ward Island was fairly satisfactory.