"A SHAM THING"

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 26, 31 January 1924, Page 9

"A SHAM THING"

HEATHER IN TONGARIRO PARK.

The planting of heather on certain of the open portions of the Tongariro National Park'was roundly condemned by -Dr. L. Cockayne (Wellington) at this week's meeting of the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute. A report oh the work of the Park Board of Control stated that when the board was constituted a considerable quantity of heather seed was on its way from Britain, purchased at the expense of the Robert Bruce Trust. The board had given permission for the planting of the seed, and had decided to consider the whole matter before any further planting was allowed. Dr. Cockayne was emphatic in his protest against the planting of the seed. "If we get heather into the tussock land of the South Island," he remarked, "it will reduce its carrying capacity by one half. .The country now carries only one sheep to four acres. The heather is being planted, at present on the south side of the mountain, in which the sportspeople Vare not in the least interested. I would sooner see gorse planted if they want to make, a beautiful flower garden there. We can't get rid of the heather where it has been planted. It is wiping out the natural vegetation, and it is not as Nature intended it They are trying to turn the Park into the Swiss Alps or the Rocky Mountains, or into some sham thing which does not exist on earth, and I hope does not exist in Heaven.' (Laughter.) It was decided to protest strongly" a.gainst_ the planting of heather in the longanro National Park and all other national parks and scenic reserves ■A resolution was also carried disaptbTpirk the'leasin S of anJ Potion of