BUSH PRESERVATION

Evening Star, Issue 23527, 16 March 1940, Page 16

BUSH PRESERVATION

MEETING OF SOCIETYMEMBERS APPOINTED AS IAWtH The 'Otago Native Bush Preservation Society held a general- meeting; in th® Museum on Thursday evening. *Dr Skinner presided over an attendance of 40 members. A letter was read from the town clerk agreeing to the appointment of members of this society as rangers, and also agreeing to the society removing noxious ■ weeds and planting native trees. - In its letter the City Council further stated: “ The work of clearing muhlenbeckia has now been practically completed, and hence whatever objections there may have been to the carrying out of the work, or the method employed, the underlying causa will shortly have disappeared, and. as far as can be seen is not likely to aris® again.” ; . » Members expressed gratification a» the City t Council’s attitude, but f ;it fa* pointed out that the' destruction-/waa still going 0n.,, : An area on the steep hill face above' Woodhaugh Gardens was being partially cleared, and Misa Hayward'reported that lawyer, parsonia* and muhlenbeckia were being destroyed and the whole of the smaller shrubs 'cut down. The president. Dr Skinner, and the hon. secretary, Mr 6, Howes, wer® deputed to inspect as early as possible and to find out who Was responsible for disobeying the City Council’* initruotions.

■ The question of the appointment of rangers was dealt with, and any person willing to act was requested to pet into touch with the secretary. Dr Skinner stated that with a membership of 300 it was evident, that the public were taking a keen interest in bush preservation and were anxious thafi something definite should, be done to stop further interference with the native bush. It was advisable to hold public meetings in different parts of the town and to establish local committee* to work in close touch with the reserves department. One such committee had already been set up and had . met ah Columba College. Dr ’ Skinner mentioned 'that'a suggestion had been made that the tracks through the busH in this area should be widened, and ho was sympathetic towards this idea. A number of members present at one* criticised this policy, and jpointed out that the society was definitely for tho preservation of the bush, and that any) destruction in any area was foreign to the ideas of the majority of the members. If clumps of bush near the footpaths were considered to be dangerous then they should he protected', by * fence; A fence would! he less expensive than clearing and maintaining tucH clearances. ‘ •

Reports of tho cutting down of native hush in various areas were received, and one member reported that at tho back of he Theomin residence worker# were carefully destroying native lawyer* but were not cutting out blackberry. The President pomteef out that the City Council was spending a lar:ge amount of money each year to destroy the native hush, and that once clearing took place the expenditure must he continued each year. After a_ full discussion by members of the various matters of business that arose the meting adjourned! to inspect the fine collection! of bird pictures by Miss Daff, . . A number of new members were enrolled, and an anonymous donation of £1 received.