PRESERVATION OF BEAUTY SPOTS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 160, 3 April 1937, Page 10

PRESERVATION OF BEAUTY SPOTS

Co-ordination of Work

ROADSIDE TREES AND NATIVE BUSH

’ National Conference Held

Steps toward co-ordinating the work of preserving the natural beauties of the country and making “this very beautiful Dominion even more beaiftiful” ‘were taken at a large and representative conference held in Parliament Buildings yesterday. It was decided to recommend (he Government to appoint an interim committee to consider the constitution of a national organisation for the conservation of native vegetation and for amenity planting. The Governor-General, Lord Galway, presided, and among those present were the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, and the Minister of Lands, Hon. F. Langstone.

His Excellency, in declaring the conference open, said that the presence of so many men and women showed that they appreciated the importance of the conference to the future of the Dominion. Tree-planting and the beautilicaition of the landscape were matters in which he had been most keenly interested for many years, and he hoped to be able to lend the movement all the assistance he could. He had perused the agenda paper carefully, but at the moment he was not quite clear on the actual scope of the conference, as there seemed to be quite a number of matters which would legitimately fall within its sphere. Perhaps those might be divided under the following heads: (a) Preservation of the existing native bush. (b) Replanting of native bush in areas where the forest had been destroyed by fire. (c) Planting of roadside trees. (d) Encouraging local bodies and private individuals to plant belts of trees and suitable shrubs and trees so that they might be in keeping with a scheme of beautification. (e) Ensuring that trees, once planted, were properly cared for until they were firmly established. (f) Precautions against fire. (g) Taking steps to ensure that the ravages of deer in the native forests were properly checked. Work In Old Country. His Excellency said that in the Old Country the Roads Beautifying Association of England existed to further the planting and beautifying of new roads, and for that purpose the leading experts of Kew, the Royal Horticultural Society, the Government Forestry Department, and many others had formed themselves into the voluntary central body of the association, and gave their services in inspecting mile by mile the many new and widened roads all over Great Britain. In the days of old New Zealand the Maoris had their traditions and superstitions in the matter of trees. To the Maoris the whole forest was “tapu,” or sacred, -and his Excellency said he had been told it was always necessary to make a suitable offering when a tree was felled, as otherwise, according to legend, the destruction of the tree or the forest brought evil to the individual and to the tribe. The legend doubtless had its origin in the sad experiences of tribes in certain districts which had the misfortune to lose the forests by lire.

“In tlie Old Country,” he continued, “we have an old English saying which also doubtless came into being as the result of the experience of other days. It is, ‘Remember that for every tree you cut down, you shall plant six new ones.’ Most of you know already how Arbor Day came into being, and how the lesson which it taught spread to all tlie older countries of the world. It: now becomes tlie duty of tire Government and the people of New Zea-land.-and in particular of those of us who are assembled here to-day, to endeavour to apply, in our own country, the policy which lias proved successful in others in lire matter of tree-planting. “This matter of planting the roadsides and beautifying the landscape is a national one—one in which every section of the community is vitally interested—and I think we are all agreed that it is in our very best interests to restore as far as possible the one-time forest beauty of the country by preserving the existing native trees and by replanting others when the opportunity offers. I know that in many districts in New Zealand weather conditions are against, the successful planting of certain native trees. “In some of these districts, however, the trees of the Old World —the oak, the beech, the elm, ami the Spanish and horse chestnuts — would doubtless thrive. They would improve Ihe home and the park, the town and the country, an>d in a very few years be a sight to glad den the eye; but it is essential that the climate of a district as well as the soil shall be taken into account when selecting trees for planting.”

Developing “Tree Sense ”

His Excellency said that, quite irrespective of the type of trees which were to be planted in the various districts, he thought one of the main objects of the conference was to develop the “tree sense” in the people from one end of the country to the other. During the mvo years he had been in the Dominim he had travelled over the roads in most parts of the country, and found that there was endless scope for giving effect to schemes of replanting and landscape beautifying. In cases in which road straightening had removed the bends of the road, the utilised bends might be made use of for (lie planting of clumps of trees and shrubs, and special attention might be given to the selection of the shrubs for such spots. For instance, the silver tree and the scbumack were two whose foliage effect in the autumn was really brilliant. Owners of properties might be invited to assist the scheme by the planting of bodges of flowering shrubs on the roadside.

“Another suggestion which I have made previously, and which I should like to renew now,” said his Excellency, “is this: The New Zealand centenary—now but three years away —seems to present a splendid opportunity Tot some of New Zealand's leading citizens, as well as for the Government and local authorities, to point the way by "ear-marking’ certain plots of land—of iio great commercial value and for preference alongside the main highways—and planting them out in belts of frees.’’ His Excellency appealed to those owning such areas of land to make them available to the local authorities for that purpose so that, when properly planted, they would enhance the beauty of the district. L£ the suggestion was

worth considering it might be possible for belts of such centenary trees to be planted thereon and marked by suitable nameplates. A proper record could be made of the names of the benefactors. Those nameplates, as well as the trees, could be cared for through the years, so that when the bicentenaiy arrived, the trees so planted would form a fine monument to the donors, and objects of beauty to the environment. “The one spot in this country m which I am most particularly interested at the present lime is Milford Sound, continued his Excellency, "and I hate every hope that when the Homer Tunnel has been completed, the planting oi the reclaimed areas in the vicinity will be undertaken with a view to ensuring that this spot remains the most glorious in New Zealand. With this ambition I know that the .Minister in Charge ol Scenic Preservation. Mr. Langstone. is> in full sympathy.” HiS Excellency said that on the occasion of a broadcast: which he delivered last Arbor Day. he announced his intention of presenting a cup to the local body which planted the best and most artistic mile of main highway. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, it had not been possible to draft a set of rules governing the award of that cup but be was hoping that that would be undertaken within the next week 01 so. He expressed the earnest hope that every success would attend the conference ami that all those present would realise how much depended on their whole-hearted co-operation.

“A Losing Battle.”

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, on behalf of the Government, expressed appreciation of the interest taken by Lord and Lady Galway in the preservation of the native bush and the beautification of roadsides and waste spaces. It w,as due largely to the personal enthusiasm of their Excellencies that the conference was being held. The number of delegates present was a happy augury. Organisations and individuals had done good work over many years. Money h,ad been subscribed and spent and much voluntary labour had been put into actual planting and conservation for the benefit of the people. “But for all that,” said the Minister, “I feel, as, indeed, I think, these organisations themselves must feel, that a losing battle has been waged. A more real and earnest co-ordination of all interests is necessary to ensure the success desired by lovers of our flora. What end shall be achieved by the planting of trees along roadsides, in parks, and in odd comers of our Godgiven heritage? Every summer we see hillsides devastated of their beauty through carelessly-thrown matches or cigarette-butts.” Mr. Parry said ha could give several examples of how planting was a waste of effort without an active policy. At the city end of the Hutt Road, the Wellington Beautifying Society was doing fine planting -work. Between there and Petone, however, natural beauty was being destroyed as a result of quarrying. On the other side of the harbour, within the past two months, there had been three disastrous hillside fires, flame in a few short hours creating a waste that would take a lifetime to restore.

“The time 'has arrived,” said Mr. Parry, “when a national drive should be made to educate public opinion and to remove the reproach that ‘every New Zealander is born with an axe and a fire-stick in bis hands.’ ”

Mr. Parry said that it was impossible to expect the Government to provide all the money necessary to acquire land or to subsidise the efforts of every treeplanting organisation. What was needed in nine cases out of ten was not the expenditure of money, but the expenditure of manual effort. The Government recognised that it had a national duty, and recently it had been decided to increase substantially the scenery preservation vote and the funds of the Lands and Survey Department available for expenditure on public domains and national parks; to provide special aid from the Consolidated Fund for the State Forest Service to supply from nurseries or otherwise native plants or seeds for amenity planting; to make an annual grant to help in the campaign of education and propaganda; to plant lands controlled by Government departments; and to make an annual grant toward the expenses of the proposed national organisation. Policy of the Department. The Minister of Lands, Hon. F. Langstone, said that beautiful surroundings inculcated beauty in the minds of the people. . New Zealand possessed some glorious scenery, and no effort should be spared to preserve as much of it as possible. The Lands Department was administering 980 scenic reserves, comprising 705,000 acres. Domains numbered 775 and consisted of 75,000 acres. There were eight national parks in the Dominion with a total acreage of 2,984,000. The Tourist Department controlled 216,700 acres. Altogether the area set aside for the people for all time was well over 3,000,000 acres. Mr. Langstone said that through lack of foresight in days gone by many patches of bush had been destroyed which should never have been touched. The mistake had been brought home to settlers, who had had to face a serious position ns the result of hillsides being denuded. The Forestry Department was pursuing a scientific policy. It was realised that sawmilling must go side by side with the conservation of forests. Where it was necessary to convert trees into timber it should lie done on a scientific basis. The department had laid it down that trees of certain dimensions only should be taken leaving standing the trees which had not reached maturity. The regeneration possible with proper care and proper forestry management was remarkable.

Agreement with his Excel I' ■ that there was great scope for the beautification of the roadsides was expressed by Mr. Langstone, who said he thought the suggestion opened up a great opportunity to lovers of trees to cooperate with the local bodies controlling roads. Mr. Langstone paid a glowing tribute Io Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Hutchinson, of Hissington, Napier, for their gift of a block of laud for scenic purposes. On the motion of Mr. Parry, the eoli-ferem-e extended its warmest good wishes Io her Excellency. Lady Galway, and expressed pleasure at her speedy recovery from illness. Acknowledgment was made of her Exc'” -Ury's deep interest and practical work in native bush preservation.

During a discussion on the future of Arbor Day, Mr. J. W. Heenan said that there was a tendency to confine tree-planting to Arbor Day. Arbor Day, he suggested, was a 365-day day. Amendment of Law Urged. Sponsored by the New Zealand Counties’ Association, a remit recommending the Government to amend the law to enable public bodies to acquire land to protect scenic assets adjoining public roads or public waler ways was carried. On behalf of the New Zealand Institute id Horticulture, the following remit wa* moved:—Uj “Thai the Go-

vernment be asked to undertake a classification of all land in New Zealand at present covered with standing bush with a view to the prohibition of further clearing (a) in all cases where such clearing would be detrimental, (b) in all other eases except when satisfied that the land so cleared will be economically utilised. (2) That the Government be requested, in its forthcoming legislation to provide for the prevention of the destruction of bush facing any new road or railway or newlydesignated main highway, pending inspection from the Scenery Preservation Board, but of not more than 10 chains in depth or to the nearest ridge crest.'' It was decided Io refer Hie remit to the national organisation. Mr. F. Milner (Oaniaru) moved: “(J) That the Government be recommended to appoint an interim committee representative of appropriate national organisations and of the Government, to consider the outline of a proposed constitution of a national organisation for the conservation of New Zealand native vegetation and for amenity planting submitted to the conference to-day. and in the light of criticisms of that scheme submitted here to-day or subsequently submitted in writing, to draft a suitable constitution. (2) That on the approval of such constitution by the Government, the interim committee should be directed to proceed in such a manner as may be found practicable to bring the national organisation with district councils and local committees into being.” The remit was carried.

A further remit passed recommended that Ihe eorotiafioji of His Majesty King George VI should, wherever possible. be celebrated by appropriate plantings of trees and thal the occasion of Now Zealand's centennial in 1910 be marked by (ho planting of trees as memorials Io the pioneers. His Excellency was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for presiding. Appreciation was expressed also of the presence of Mr. Parry and Mr. Langstone, and of the valuable information and helpful advice they had given.