"HANDS OFF THE PARK."

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1921, Page 4

"HANDS OFF THE PARK."

The formal handing over to the re- ! presentaitive of ithe Government of the Trounson Kauri Park in the Kaihu district is an event of great national importance. This wonderful area of magnificent forest is described by a much-travelled New Zealander, ,the Hoa. George Fowlds, as one of the grca.' sights of the world. In all his travels, he declares, the has seen nothing equal to this beautiful park-mat now belongs to the people of Nevf \jaland. Surely the whole people grateful to 'the kindly, unostentatious donor of this great gift. In one of the speeches made at Wednesday's ceremonj the money value of Mr Trounson's gift was riientioaie'd, the figures indicating very .clearly the princely nature of his generosity. But while that aspect is deserving of recognition, .it is the intrinsic value of (the gift and the spirit which prompted it that chiefly commend it. So far as Mr Trounson is concerned we need not say more than that his gift and his words at Wednesday's gathering have revealed the simple nofbility of his character. He began to be a public benefactor when he set himself to preserve the beautiful kauri park that is to be associated with (his name for .all time, and.his gift is simply the crowning act of his public service. He and the people of New Zealand are happy in the fact that his munificent offer -was received by a sympathetic Government, which realised the wisdom of making the most of its opportunity to provide a real pleasure-ground for the whole nation, for that is what the Trounson Ivauri Park must become. Thousands of people, as 'the GovernorGeneral predicted, will visit the park, to be refreshed by rest in its cool places and to be inspired by its beautiful grandeur. It is a rare privilege tihat i'he opening of 'the Trounson Kauri Park has conferred upon the nation. The privilege, of course, entails a duty —'the duty of watching and warding this sacred ground that is the heritage of the generations yet unborn. That this duty may be fulfilled it will be

well, not only for the members of the Northern Wairoa Scenic Club and their guests, but also tfor the whole nation to accept the slogan so aptly offered by Mr A. E. Harding, "Hands Off The Park," No sacrilegious..band can be permitted to.mar the 'beauty or impair the freedom of the people's park; this great creation of Nature must Temain for all time. The Trounson Kauri Park becomes one of a chain of national playgrounds —one amid the ruggcdnoss of the mountains in the far southern portion of the Dominion, another around the slopes of the great voice noes in the central part of fhe North Island, and .now ithis. rich forestclad area in the Kailiu Valley. Each of these parks has its own special features, but none can rival the stately kauri (Jtrees which give the new park its unique charm. New Zealand has yadeed become possessed of a goodly heritage, and her people owe it to themselves and to those who are to come after them to -cherish and preserve this splendid gift.