BEAUTY IN TREES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 194, 17 July 1937, Page 8

BEAUTY IN TREES.

Ax admirable opportunity of marking the diamond jubilee of the city of Palmerston North, and at the same time handing on to generations to come something of tangible beauty and remembrance, is advanced in tbe suggestion made at the meeting of citizens, this week, by Mr L. H. Collinson to plant avenues of trees along the highways leading to the city. The proposal is but one of the activities suggested for the official programme of celebrations, but it is one which should enlist much support because of its obvious worth. Mr Collinson’s advocacy of this step is not new; some years ago it was advanced by him but it fell, seemingly, on fruitless ground. Since then, however, there has been growing a greater sense of treemindedness among the people generally, and now that the suggestion has been revived it is to be hoped that it will be actively taken up by the Jubilee Celebrations Committee and the local bodies concerned. In this connection it is noted that the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Parry) is urging upon governing bodies and institutions the desirability of celebrating Arbor Day on a more prominent scale than ever, tliis year, August 11 having been fixed as the date for observance. The Minister points out, rightly, that in addition to the valuable assistance given by a tree planting ceremony in impressing the value of this activity from both aesthetic and economio viewpoints, it is felt this day presents an opportunity for stressing various other matters of the greatest importance. Among these he mentions the need for proper after-care of the trees once they have been planted. The suggestion placed before the Citizens’ Committee provides for memorial oak trees, and should these be most suitable, there seems to be no reason why a scheme of planting should not be set in train for execution at the most favourable date nearest the jubilee celebrations. The suburbs of the city present a very attractive appearance, due to their spacious layout and the commendable beautifying activities of individual residents, and it would be difficult to conceive of anything finer than imposing avenues of trees leading to them from a few miles out in each direction. The matter will doubtless be considered when the programme of celebrations is being drawn up, and should be pursued to accomplishment. Other centres, notably Auckland and Wanganui, have already set in train a similar programme, which in years to come should be of much benefit.