BUSH PRESERVATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 60, 12 March 1937, Page 7

BUSH PRESERVATION

CONCERN FELT

GOVERNMENT ACTION URGED

The future of horticulture in the Dominion—horticulture being considered in its widest aspect—was discussed by yesterday's annual meeting of the New ■Zealand Institute of Horticulture, which was attended by delegates from all parts of the Dominion. Mr. J. G. MacKenzie presided, and he congratulated the institute upon the continued progress of its educational work. Given adequate Government support, he saw no reason why greater progress should not be made in the future. Excellent spade-work had already been done and fine co-opera-tion shown. Mr. F. S. Pope, who was elected as the new president, said that he was confident that the institute was filling a real need and was more and more becoming a power in the land. It would even to some extent make its mark outside New Zealand. One of the major subjects discussed by the conference was the necessity • for the provision of adequate gardens, parks, and recreation areas in all urban, and suburban districts. It was decided, as a step in the direction of encouraging the setting aside and development of such areas, to urge the Government to consider the incidence of local body taxation' as affecting botanic gardens, parks, and recreation \ areas owned by local bodies and used for public purposes, with a view to alleviating the burden of such taxation. ■The conference also agreed to point out to the Government that practically no revenue was derived from sucla areas. The capital outlay and cost of maintenance was, iri many cases, a burden on a controlling authority which was endeavouring to provide adequate recreation facilities for the public. DESTRUCTION OF BUSH. The widespread destruction caused by the clearance of trees and bush from land adjoining telegraph .and power lines was another subject over which members at the conference expressed concern. ' Much unnecessary destruction, it was stated, had taken place. The conference decided to draw the attention of the Government to the widespread destruction caused by the clearance of trees and bush from land adjoining such lines, and to ask the Government to define the legal rights of the various local authorities, power boards, and Government Departments in regard removing such trees and bush from' private lands. / Opposition was expressed by resolution to a recommendation made to the Government by a recent local body conference that wider powers be granted to the authorities to remove such trees and. bush. The conference also viewed with alarm the increasing depredations of ' deep,. cattle, and other animals on Stewart Island, and, in view of the importance of the island as a sanctuary, it was decided to direct the attention of the Government to this position, and to the urgency of more active j measures of extermination. Mr. Pope was. deputed to represent the institute at the conference which ii to be convened next month for the purpose of discussing tree planting and bush preservation. • ;' SERVICES RECOGNISED. : Recognition of the services to horti- "% 'culture in New Zealand given by the | 'retiring chairman (Mr. F. J. Nathan) § was placed on record, members express- \ ing regret that he was unable to con- | tinue the work because^of ill health. I , Mr. G. Jacquiery, honorary curator | .of the Southland Museum, was elected | .an honorary fellow of the institute. Tor | .years he has devoted a disproportion- | ate amount of his time to botanical re- | search in the field, scenery, preserva- i .lion, and natural science, and he is re- I garded as an authority on all botanical, I horticultural, and scientific problems. I

] From six nominations, Mr. Charles H. Curtis, V.M.H., managing editor of "The Gardeners' Chronicle," Ltd., England, was elected an honorary overseas member. Mr. Curtis has given valuable services to horticulture, both from the scientific and practical standpoints.

Officers were elected as follows:— President, Mr. F. S. Pope; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. T. L. Lancaster land), E. W. Corner (Hawke's Bay), P. Black (Palmerston North), J. G. MacKenzie (Wellington), T. Rigg (Nel-1 son), J.A. McPherson (Canterbury),! D. Tannock (Otago), Sir Robert Ander-j son, C.M.G. (Southland). Mr. P. Thompson (Taranaki); executive committee, Mrs. Knox Gilmer, Projessor H. B. Kirk, Dr. W. R. B. Oliver, Messrs. A.I H. Cockayne, J. A. Campbell, T. Waugh, W. K. Dallas, W. C. Hyde, W. S. Mason, T.-C." Brash, H. J. Poole, E. Phillips Turner, A. McMillan, F. J. Shanks.