CONTROL OF NATIONAL PARKS

Evening Star, Issue 22272, 25 February 1936, Page 14

CONTROL OF NATIONAL PARKS

MANY PROBLEMS CONSERVATION OF FORESTS [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 24. The case for the more unified control of New Zealand’s national parks, with greater State expenditure on them, the licensing of alpine guides, the conservation of forests in preference to spending money at regular intervals on repairing flood damage aggravated by_ forest denudation, and the systematic/destruction of deer, chamois, and thar was presented by a deputation from the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand this morning to the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage), the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry), and the Minister of Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone). The Ministers expressed complete sympathy with the objects of the deputation, but made it clear that there was not much hope of the Government giving a lot of money away to parks, as it was dealing at the moment with what might be described as “ bread and butter problems.” The deputation, which represented 33 clubs with between 4,000 and 5,000 members, comprised Mr L. O. Hooker (president), Mr A. P. Harper, Mr F. W. Vosselcr, Mr S. A. Wiren, and Mr A. 11. Perry (secretary). Mr Hooker spoke of the necessity for a change in the present system of the control of national parks, pointing out that there was no unity. The deputation recommended a central controlling authority at the seat of government consisting of 10 members, with the Minister as chairman, five Government departmental representatives, and representatives of the users of the parks; two of these to be appointed by the Federated Mountain Clubs.

Mr Langstone said it was absolutely essential that some better _ system of co-ordination should obtain in the future. He did not know that a solution lay in national park boards, or whether they should not have centralised control through the department. They did not want a cumbersome committee. The problem of bush denudation was serious, not only to the settlers, but also to the Government. He assured the alpine clubs of the Government’s sympathy. . ' The destruction by deer was an important question which would be tackled, Mr Parry said. It was a question of money, and men had to be trained to do the job. The work of destroying deer would be pushed on much more vigorously than in the past. The Prime Minister said they agreed with the deputation’s object, and it was only a question .of detail. The national parks had been starved through a lack of money, but so had everything else. •That was a problem to be handled, and they would handle it with credit to themselves and with benefit to the people of the country.