NATIVE FLORA A

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 111, 12 May 1934, Page 15

NATIVE FLORA A

ALPINE SOCIETY'S ACTION

PRESERVATION AND PROPAGATION

The New Zealand Alpine and Eoek Garden Society (Inc.) has set up as a branch of its activities a sub-committee to take measures for tho preservation, and propagation of native flora. Tho chairman of the committee is Mr. J. Q. Helyar. and the secretary Mr. L. D. Haggett, and for its purpose it has requested and secured the services of experts of the highest standing in various parts of the Dominion.

A ineoting of the committee was held at the residence of Mr. Helyar, King's Crescent, Lower Hutt, on Thursday evening. . A report before the committee showed that tho unique flora of New Zealand was in great danger from the- ravages of deer, fires, vandals, and private collectors, and that probably the greatest menace was tho collectors, who in many instances capitalised their merciless excursions into the bush. It was known that many thousands of plants left New Zealand annually, and that the experts from overseas who had inoro time at their disposal were better able to avoid detection when taking the pick of New Zealand's unique flora.

The report went on to state that it was the aim of the society to assist in every possible way such legislation as might be necessary to, provent such inroads. One authority consulted had stated that a great menace to native plants, particularly those belonging to the alpino and sub-alpino bolts, was the presence of imported pests—deer, thai', and chamois. In the Otago Alps and elsewhero many species were becoming extinct, and it would be only a matter of time when some would be practically wiped out. Fire also took a heavy toll, as had been .repqrted in tho Press in regard to Tongariro National Park, where hundreds of acres had been ruined. .......

It was not, tho report stated, the province of the society to prevent such denudation, but it was its aim to preserve immediately such plants as were liable to extinction, and on this point the replies from leading botanists and experts in New Zealand had been most encouraging.

It was emphasised at tho meeting that it was definitely not tho intention of the society to remove any plants from their, natural habitat but to propagate, by means of seeds and cuttings, any that had been classified as rare and in need of immediate protection.

The replies from the botanists consulted showed that 600 species had been suggested, and out of these the committee decided, to select about 30 -which were in immediate) danger of extinction.

Certain botanical areas were allotted to approved collectors and propagation will Ijo given expert attention.