TONGARIRIO NATIONAL PARK.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 January 1922, Page 2

TONGARIRIO NATIONAL PARK.

DESTRUCTION OF NATIVE TREES

Mr W. H. Field, M.P., who lias just relumed alter spending a week at the Tongaririo National Park, informed'a Chronicle representative to-day that he regretted to say lhat much of the beautiful hush on the slopes of Tongaririo being destroyed. He was strongly of opinion that this should not only be prestVwed, hut the hush country on the oi the railway between Raurlm'hL and Ohakune and stretching should be kept in its nati5 s attached to the Tongaririo reserved.“lt is not our properly io destroy,” said \ ■Mr Field. “This beautiful hush should be kept for the general ions to conic. Instead of that, sawmills are at. work ■ in it, and there are gangs of men there cutting posts and smashing up the hush. Every fee there to he regarded as sacred." Proceeding, Mr Field said Ihe ggngs working there would lie doing heller work if they were employed making roads through the reserve, and incidentally . mentioned that a little time back one of the men dropped a match which resulted in a fire that, destroyed the growth of 3000 acres. This was absolutely irreparable, therefore the hush that was left should not be further encroached upon. Mr Field stated that it seemed absurd that the Government was planting foxglove, Scotch heather and lupin in'places on, (he reserve, and yet was allowing the destruction of the beautiful native trees. lie added that he-would bring the matter up in (he House, and see if something could not be done on the lines he had mentioned.'