SPARE THE PINES

Evening Post, Volume CCXV, Issue 13, 17 January 1938, Page 8

SPARE THE PINES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Although not a resident I wish to join "Pro Bono Publico" in his plea to the Minister, and to give my experience in my own town. Ido not know whether the letter refers to proposed removal of pines to give clearer view to Fairlie Terrace, but there seems to be a number of people so lazy that they wish a view brought to their back door or bedside. In such cases they don't deserve to have a view at all. Then there are some who would think the Botanical Gardens a lovely place if reduced to its original tussock, and cannot see anything in a tree except prospective firewood. The views of these should be ignored. What would be said to one whose view of the harbour was blocked by Parliament House and wished that building demolished? Yet this is as logical as the other.

Generally speaking there seems to have been born a spirit of destruction, particularly affecting trees. New Plymouth has been badly affected by the "bug," and some years ago the Stratford Domain Board wantonly destroyed some splendid avenues of pines. Recently the board was again infected, and the destruction of further avenues was decided on after receipt of a report on the question from a Government expert. The pines' are about 30 years old, have not yet reached their prime, and occupy three or four acres out of 50 acres of domain. They shelter the native bush,, and are the making of the park. '' The expert's advice was to cut all the pines in five years, as they would be dangerous in ten years. Yet he said they would grow 20ft during that time, thus contradicting his own statement as to danger. He advised planting natives .in the places where they were cut (common sense would say this would be the worst place to plant as the ground would have been sucked for 30 years), and to "cart in soil" for the new plantations. Common sense might ask where this is to come from as there will be four to five acres of it; also why < not use some other part of the 50 acres. He advised planting native 'trees, "which will make a nice shelter belt," and he is "satisfied native trees will stand up to any wind that blows." The native trees might make shelter in say 150 years as I noticed several native trees in Pukekura Park planted in 1864 and only nine inches through. Visitors to Mount Egmont National Reserve or any reserve will know that the native trees on the outskirts are small, bent, and deformed —because they do not stand up to the wind—and the big trees are in the shelter. So this expert has proved that he is lamentably ignorant on several vital points connected with planting. Yet his advice is taken, and a beautiful park is to be reduced to the level of a paddock with a little stunted and dying bush in it. If Wellington is taking "expert" advice let it be winnowed ninety times nine by practical men. In any case it is high time the Minister should protect the long-suffering public from wire-pulled public bodies, and those who talk of replacing exotics by native trees which they ought to know will only be saplings in 50 years.—l am, etc., H. E. LAWRENCE. (To the Editor.) Sir, —As a motorist who often uses the Ohiro Road when returning from a trip round Wellington's marine drive, I agree wholeheartedly with "AntiPine" that the removal of the pine trees in Central Park would be a distinct advantage. Except for a glimpse in one or two.places, the view of the harbour, which is exquisite from this point of the hills, is entirely obscured by dark and gloomy pines. People resting on the seats provided in Ohiro Road, or motorists driving along, cannot see through the dense foliage. A wellgrown pine tree may be a thing of beauty to some people,, but, as against a glorious vista of sea and sky and hills, surely there is no question as to which is of greater value to the community. After cutting out the pines there would still be many trees left in Central Park, eucalyptus trees mostly, and "Pro Bono Publico" and his friends and everyone else would then really be able to enjoy the view seen between and through the lighter foliage of these trees.—l am, etc., FIRST THINGS FIRST.