BIRDS AND BUSH

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 127, 30 May 1916, Page 8

BIRDS AND BUSH

PLEA FOR PRESERVATION

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

INTERESTED,

Forcible pleas for the- preservation of native bush and birds were put forward at the annual mooting of tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society last niglit.

Mr. W. G. Talbot suggested that it was important that tho Acclimatisation Society should seek to preserve the bush. Where bush was destroyed tho bed of the stream was spoilt, and tho water filtered through the shingle. They could sco this in several rivers where tho bush had been cleared on certain reaches of the water. Another matter, closely allied to this, was in connection with Tongariro National Park. The Government had • reserved •' an area, oE 100,000 acres on tho mountain, but Dr. Cockayne had recommended that the area should be extended ,to 500,000 acres. That' area would be a splendid one for fishing and shooting and the preservation of bird life. If cleared the land would not be very valuable for other purposes. ' ■ The ■Chairman (Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp) said he quite agreed with Mr. Talbot regarding the preservation of the bush. They had a society, the Forest and Birds' Protection Society, which, with Mr. H. G. Ell, M.P., as secretary, had done good work. If Mr. Talbot had any suggestions to rnako he might bring them before that society.

Mr. Field, M.P., supported Mr. Talbot's suggestion that the Acclimatisation Society, as a body interested in the preservation of birds, should endeavour to have the area of Tongariro National Park extended. The preservation of the bush was important not only with a. view to keeping alive the native birds, which could only find feeding grounds in sanctuaries, but also for the prevention of floods. In many rivers it was seen that where the bush was cut the volume of water was considerably lessened, the water filtering through the shingle. In some cases the river even dried up altogether in summer. There were constant attempts to encroach on scenic reserves, and! these should be resisted, especially where the land when cleared would be of little value for farming. Huge areas of such land had been unwisely denuded of bush in the past. They should preserve the bush on useless lands and also to a certain extent on land which could be used. Bush on the Tararuas should be preserved. A noted forestry expert who visited New Zealand recently stated that we had absolutely played the fool with our forests. Had we dealt with the matter as we should havo we could have cleared the best land and retained other areas for forestry purposes.' Dealt with scientifically, such forest reserves would have assured us of our supplies of timber for all time, whereas now they were almost exhausted. Anyone who had read Dr Cockayne's report realised the value of Tongariro Park and the importance of extending the boundaries.

Mr. L. H. B. Wilson instanced the result of forest destruction in the Hutt River. In an old print it was shown as a chain-wide stream running between steep banks, very different from the present river. In reply to a remark by Mr. Scott, the Chairman said that a list of trees which might be planted to provide food for birds had been prepared, and supplied to the City Council. Mr. Field said that for five or six miles on the Akatarawa-road, now nearly completed, there was some beautiful bush, with native birds, which should be preserved. Some of the bush was recently on tho market, and, as the Government had no funds for such purposes at present, he had himself purchased it, and would sell it to the Government at the same price. Some other gentleman might feel disposed to acquire some more of the bush! If it were not acquired every tree would in time be felled.

Later in the evening it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Field, seconded by Mr. Talbot: "That the Government be urged to give its early and serious attention to the ■ evil of felling further areas of our Native forest on lands unsuited for farming purposes; to the urgent need of maintaining our present forest and scenic reserves in their entirety ; that the area of Tongariro National Park be extended as recommended by Dr. Cockayne, F.R.S. ; that areas be set apart for the treatment of scientific forestry, and that so far as possible effective steps be taken to discourage to the utmost the wanton and useless destruction of native trees this council being convinced that our climatic conditions are altered for the worse, floods and destruction of land and personal property are occasioned, thescenic charms of our country are seriously diminished and extermination threatens our native bush birds by the continuance unchecked of the destruction of our native forests." Copies -of the resolution are to be sent to other Acclimatisation Societies and Ministers, of the Crown.