The Hawera Star. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1924. EGMONT PARK.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 November 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1924. EGMONT PARK.

Delivered every evening by 9 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakaniam, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser- Road, and Ararata. /

That the Government is desirous of providing adequate legislation to protect the Egmont National Park is seen clearly in the Bill introduced by the Minister of Lands' last week. The summary of the contents of the Bill, which our Wellington correspondent telegraphed, sets out the proposals, and no doubt the people of the province will consider the restrictions reasonable and necessary in the interests of their great scenic asset. Visitors to the province are very keen about the mountain and its glories, and one has frequently met people from overseas countries who, after visiting the mountain, have only one fault to find, and. that is the failure to advertise its beauties much more than is done at present. The glory of New Zealand’s scenic spots lies mainly in their being in their natural state, the abundance of green forest growths being untouched by man. The landscape gardener may do wonderful work within limitations, but the best that can be done artificially makes a far weaker appeal than the work which Dame Nature has taken generations to do upon such a, vast scale. Nature has lavished her gifts. upon New Zealand, and throughout the islands are to be found numerous places of great scenic beauty, though fewer than would have been the case had there been in operation in years gone bv proper protective legislation to prevent the wicked destruction of forest in places which, when cleared, were worthless. Many a beauty spot has been turned into an eyesore through the wanton destruction of the forest, and lovers of the beautiful in Nature have for long been anxious for protection to be provided by Parliament. Mt. Egmont is surrounded by a fine forest belt, and on the way to the snpw line the visitor passes through

this ''magnificent belt, the glories of which are so well maintained, by the bountiful rainfall. Goats have been reported as damaging the bush, but there are other dangers, against which the Bill is to provide. The setting up of four local committees, which will elect delegates to the Egmont National Park Board, will give the people ■in all parts of the province an interest in the Park and in the work of maintaining it for the benefit of all! The Bill sets the question of control of. Mt. Egmont and its beautiful forest and bird life upon a proper footing, and we hope that it will lead the people in all parts of the province to take a renewed interest in the mountain whieh for grandeur and beauty is regarded by tourists as one of the finest in the world.* The preservation and protection of its flora and fauna should be regarded as a national duty, while by giving wider publicity to her great scenic attraction Taranaki would benefit.