SCENERY CONSERVATION

Evening Star, Issue 12028, 28 October 1903, Page 7

SCENERY CONSERVATION

Fbom Ore, I’v.'iuami-.xtauv Ri-tmrtkr.j

WELLINGTON'. October 28. The committee stage of tin. Sceii-my Pie-sa-rvai isoi Bill !a 1 night provoked coiisidtiable iiitiVn-p.ee of opinion as to the Royal Commission which it was proposed to sei up to ins-vet and sde"f the liciuuv spots of the colonv la he conserved.

Mr M ,-sey led oil by objecting in tin juopo-al on the score or expense. He sug

..■cried that the work should be catried our by Gi.v.-i umein depanmental officers.

The Premier said that the matter was too important to be hj ft undefined. The Government were anxious to start the work of b’.iuiy-spot preservation, but they had no d.-sire to e.'labiisli an expensive com-mis.-.ion lo travel the country and have a " good time" generally. Tip- reccmumiulations could well b;- made by such a.man r.s Mr Peiey Ernilli. the late Surveyor-General. Mr Lewis suggested that a local man should be '•elected in each provincial district to lepou to (.lie head. Mr R. M'Ken/.ie expressed the hope that

no Jrocnciy (’otnmririon would outer l,w electorate. What with education, recreation, utility, and public reserves. little was left for the people, and if scenic spots wore >■<• l aside tin‘ro would be absolutely nothin;; left. Mr Taylor thought- it was absurd to go liai and, cap in hand to the money market for loan purposes, to restrict .public works expend:!ure. ami llitiu to waste money on Kt.cnic pi es erva tion. The Premier said tb.ai be would limit the Corumisrion to five persons, and tliat the tost ui tiie same should not exceed £IOO a

Mr Massey ridiculed five Commissioners “ personally inspecting in all parks of New Zealand lands, possessing scenic or historic interest. or on which there are thermal springs ” for a paltry £IOO. The men would have to be paid £1 l.s a day, in addition to travelling expenses. Later on it was his intention to move that the sum of £IOO.OOO proposed to be set apart as the cast, of administration under the Bill be reduced by one-half. He segues ted that only three Commissioners be appointed. The. Premier said it was a question of time. He proposed to have two gentlemen appointed for <- -h island, in addition to the chairman. Tie recognised ail that had been sp,id with respect- to Mr Eli’s services in the direction of the future preservation of historic and beauty spots, Mr MT.achlan agreed with other speakers that we might pay too dearly for onr whiffle, but

Mr Hone Hekf- differed, aad said that in the interests of tourist, traffic (he scenery of the colony should he conserved at all cost.

Mr T. .Mackenzie failed to see the necessity for a Royal Commission. In his opinion it would be sufficient for the Commissioner of Crown Lands in each provincial district to act in conjunction wiil\ local residents who take a keen interest in the subject. Personally he would be prepared to point out the bounty and historic spots in Otago. Tim proposal of tire Premier that the Commission should consist of not more than “ five ” persona was carried by 43 to 27. Mr Taylor then moved the following proviso .-—“ Provided that such Commission shall consist of officers in the. Public Service of the colony.” Mr laurenson pointed out that the proposed amendment would deprive the Government of the services of such a distinguished botanist as Hr Cockayne, of New Brighton ; while Mr W. Fraser urged that, the Government should be given a free Land in the appointment of the most suitable men they could get. Tlie proviso was rejected by 49 to 16, and the danse was jiassed. Objection was raised by Mr J. Alien to clause 6 (which provides for the appropriation of £IOO,OOO, which may he spread over four years, to pay for the cori of prices purchased and working expenses) being passed as printed, as Parliament nad no control over the appropriation. The. Premier replied that this was a rational affair, and he objected to an annual appropriation by Parliament to meet purchases necessitated by the Act. Mr Allen said that as tlie Bill stood all the working expenses were to be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue, without an opportunity of review being afforded to Parliament. He moved to amend the clause by omitting the first few lines, which dealt with expense;’. The words were retained by 40 to 27. Mr Taylor moved to strike out’ the sum of £IOO,OOO with a view ty inserting £20.000. Mr Massey expressed the opinion that the amount proposed to be inserted was too email. With the public works expenditure cut down to a. vanishing point, and the. Minister afraid to face the House with the Public Works Estimates it was almost criminal to ask £IOO,OOO for this purpose. He drought £50,000 should suffice. Mr Taylor contended that directly the band sdLovesk thy.

colony would be placed under offer to the Government, ami it would be claimed that some of them contained all sorts of j patent echoes.— ( Laughter.) £5,000 a year I for four years ought to ba ample. • The Premier said that the sum of '■ £IOO,OOO had not been (decided on by Cabinet in a haphazard way. Strips of land would be retained by purchase on. both aides of the Wanganui River and in different parts of the colony. The Bill provided for the purchase of 20,000 acres at £5 per acre, and unless there was provision for 20,000 acres the 1131 might just as well be thrown overboard.

Tho ram of £IOO,OOO was retained by 42 to 15.

Mr Maasey then moved to reduce the annual expenditure not exceeding £25,000, spread over four years, to £12,600, spread over eight years. The Premier said that to carry the amendment would Ire to render the. Bill umvoikalffe. The amendment was negatived bv 45 to 23. Mr Dutbie moved the following proviso:—“ Provided always that no purcha.se of land shall be made tinder this Act until particulars of every such intended purchase have been hud before Parliament and have met willt its approval.” He protested against Parliament parting with its right of review over the. expenditure. The proviso was lost by 43 to 18. and the clause was eventually passed unaltered.

Sir William Russell drew attention to the drastic provisions of clause 9, which imposes a penalty of six months’ imprisonment for a second offence where a reserve is destroyed by fire. On tho Premiers motion imprisonment v. as deleted ami the offender made liable to pay for all damage done, including a fine not exceeding £IOO. A new clause was added on the 1 Vernier's motion directing that twenty-one days after i be meet ing of Parliament a statement shall Ik tiled of lands acquired and reserves nude under the Art

The Bill occupied nearly five hours hj s-sinu through eciuinuctte.