‘BEAUTIFUL NEW ZEALAND'

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 15

‘BEAUTIFUL NEW ZEALAND '

ADDRESS BY MR PARRY DESTRUCTION OF FAUNA AND FLORA DEPRECATED The effect of the destruction of ou; fauna and flora on the country generally was outlined by the Minister m Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) in an address to a public meeting id the Oamaru Opera House yesterday afternoon. The deputy-mayor (Mr iv Familton) presided, and in welcoming the Hon. Parry to the town said it had been realised by prominent members of the community that tree planting was a necessity if they were to ■ preserve the wonderful flora of this country, and he was pleased to notice that schemes were in prospect for the furtherance- of this object. He tell that the visit of the Minister to Oam,'aru would be reflected in the work of tree-planting that would be carried put in-the future. . “ To-day .we are doing a good thing, and this inaugural meeting is a notable occasion; by no means let us underrate its importance,” said Dr E. b. Stubbs in his introductory remarks. Elucidating the main historical facts leading up to the meeting, he went on to say that they should hold their estimate of the importance of the occasion with only firmer, assurance if they looked at it for a few moments in its proper place and setting, against a : larger background. They began a new association; tree planting began many years ago; therefore their so-called beginning was only a further development of what had been alreday going cn. In the beginning, stated Dr Stubbs, they had to remember and acknowledge the. Creator of all things. He began ; the trees, and out of His dispositions and preparations had com© everything which made possible their activities today. In their tree planting they were co-operating with the Spirit of Life. Theirs was an activity for the. artist, for the patriot, and for the idealist. “ I know that it is all good business and good economics, top, but for the moment I stress its warm and spiritual aspects,” said Df Stubbs. “We plant for homes, for health, for beauty, and for happiness. It is part of our citizenship, and a very practical part of our religion itself.” He referred to the work of the pioneers and all the practical farmers, and said their beautiful district to-day was their testimony. As regards the meeting, the threads leading up to it were many. The Oamaru Beautifying Society and its inspiring president (Dr A, Douglas) had. given the community education and visible demonstration. For many years, also, there had , been. talk by public-spirited citizens of the need for • more trees in the district. The members of the Waitaki County Council,and particularly the chairman (Mr J. ■ Rodman), had been advocates of trees ' The immediate spark that began the latest move was ignited by Mr R. L. Banks, who for some 40 years was en- ■ gineer to the Mackenzie'County, a region more windswept and harder and more extreme in climatic conditions than their own.. Yet their fine trees and plantations to-day were, in a large measure, .theiresult of his keenness and, 1 his most practicaL fde&lism. Pefhap# : the most delightful plantation that he formed was the one at the southern end of Lake Tekapo. A few years after planting it was destroyed by fire. He replanted the area, and there it was to-day. After the suggestion of tree planting in the district had been taken up by i the Oamaru Rotary Club other forces came into play, and new momentum was gathered. In addition to the gathering that day, the committee had a|sd aranged for the first business meeting of . the new association a week hence;/when all interested would be welc&jjed. The annual subscription would he 2s 6d and Is for junior members under- 18 years; life membership, £5. It was proposed to have a general committee of 15 country and seven town members, together with the president, secretary, and six vice-presidents. The district would be divided into five areas, each of which would have its own subcommittee,' and arrangements were : made for the closest co-operation with ' existing societies, such as the local Beautifying Society. In addition to the purchase of trees from commercial nurseries it was hoped to have some 20 or 30. nurseries of their own in the farms and gardens of members. One of the chief features of the new -association, said Dr Stubbs, was expected to be social and friendly intercourse. It was thought-that each year . there might be hundreds of visits interchanged, by members to farms, gar- ■ dens, trees, and nurseries. There would be no need to bother anyone who was unwilling or-unable to help. Even if only a pat of the community was practically interested at first, a great deal of planting would be achieved. Their neighbour, the Canterbury Progress League, had already planted 300,000 .trees. Dr Stubbs said it was a matter for regret that the children were unable to attend the function, that dav, but he hoped that many, if hot all, of the schools in the district would be linked up for training and service in the scheme. MR PARRY’S ADDRESS, “ An undertaking that is of particular benefit to a country appeals to- mo very much, and the system of tree planting that is being advocated is one which I think will ultimately be of great importance, not only to this fair province, but also to New Zealanders,” eaid the Hon. W. E. Parry, in his opening remarks. He stated that he had been a bushman since his early days, and had always been a lover of the country’s fauna and flora. On his way down from Christchurch he had been struck by the beauty of the countryside, and the efforts of the people to further beautify the roadsides by the planting df trees. There were also parts of the South Island which were unsurpassed for their natural {esthetic beauty, but unfortunately a great deal of the picturesqueness of the countryside had been spoiled by the wanton destruction of the heritage which was indubitably ours. One thing I am definitely, against,” said Mr Parry, “ and that is the destruction of our beautiful bush by the axe of the money-grabber.” He remarked that he was out to do all in his

power to prevent further wanton destruction of the bush that remained, and.he hoped that he would be'assisted in-this- venture by the many publicspirited people who realised the value of trees. • “ Our country has suffered to the extent of hundreds of thousands of pounds by the cutting back of the busn.and we are getting evidence every day of what it will mean to New Zealand in the future if such a state of affairs is allowed to continue,” Mr Parry said. Though born in Australia he loved New Zealand, and considered our fair Dominion one of the most beautiful in the world; but much of that beauty had been lost, and was being lost through the endeavours of a few who had no thought for the future or for the country. The establishment of organisations such as had been formed in Oamaru was the only way in which the public could be brought to a realisation of the danger from the destruction of our fauna, and ho thought the local association was on the right road to success. A great deal had yet to be done, however, because some people still had the idea that the stripping of hillsides was necessary. “ And it is because of this destruction that the Government will have to pay to the tune of hundreds of thousands,” said Mr Parry. He went on to say that every flood the country experienced cost the country many thousands of as the result of the stripping of hillsides and lands which required the natural protection of bush, and he quoted an instance in Taranaki where a recent flood had caused untold damage, chiefly due to the cutting away of the bush that had previously clothed tho hillsides Everywhere he travelled _he noticed that more space was required to carry out the work ho had in_ view. It was up to the farmer to assist by allowing tho right to plant trees alongside of or adjacent to his property. In connection with the work they had in prospect, the forthcoming conference would deal very fully with the whole matter, and he felt that although the responsibility of promulgating this venture was a big one, the work would be pushed ahead to a successful fruition. There was a grave responsibility resting upon each one of their shoulders to see that the native bush was restored in some measure; it was only by the concerted efforts of the public and the co-operation of the farming community and the townspeople that our country could be brought back to its former beauty. The pioneers had had to destroy much of tho bush in the clearing of the land for their farms and residences, but unfortunately the practice had been carried too far, with the result that today the country was suffering and would suffer infinitely more unless something was done. He was pleased to see that a strong organisation had been formed in North Otago, which must ultimately succeed. It was not only a local question, but a national one; therefore it behoved the public to make it a common objective—there was no room and no need for party politics to enter into the question—so that the evil destruction of beautiful bush would be stopped. In conclusion he urged all present to endeavour to arouse interest in the new association so that it might assist in conveying the idea that the movement was imperative for the future, and be congratulated all those who had been instrumental in the formation of the local association. At the conclusion of his address Mr Parry was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of the Rev. A. H. Nordme.ver, M.P.