RESERVES OR BEAUTY SPOTS?

Northern Advocate, 14 February 1928, Page 4

RESERVES OR BEAUTY SPOTS?

DR. HILL'S IMPRESSIONS.

WELLINGTON, This Day. Dr Hill, of Kew, has completed his visit to New Zealand and leaves for Sydney. Interviewed, he remarked on New Zealand’s laudable policy of setting apart reserves, but wants to knowJfhat purpose is intended. Whether they are intended merely as beauty spots for picnics, or for preservation of native plants. If the latter, it is nothing short of a scandal that at the Tongariro National Park, for instance, heather should have been introduced and that goats should grow fat on thegrowth of Mount Egmont. He contrasts this with the policy in Switzerland, where he says reserves are reserves.

He strongly condemned Auckland's pride in its motor road to the top of Bangitoto. He had been advised by the Auckland Press not to pass judgment after an hour's visit, but a scientist would see in ten minutes that such a road would .mean the introduction of / a miscellaneous colection of weeds and then gone would be the uniqueness of • the island.

Dr Hill considers that a botanical ■expert is required to advise upon a policy in respect to reserves. He will furnish a 'report upon his tour and thinks there is a great future for flax, but a great deal of research is necessary in regard to planting the right- ,/ varieties.—Press Assn. jj v