NATURE—AND MAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 28 March 1936, Page 11

NATURE—AND MAN

FORWARD THE BUSH BRIGADE PUBLIC-SPIRITED MOTORISTS (Edited by Leo Fanning) Happily, all motorists are not like the stupid vandals who raid the bush and deck their cars with wild flowers and ferns, in defiance of the law, which forbids such spoliation of the forest. A nature-lover of the Most Coast, South Island, draws attention to tlm public-spirited movement promoted by the Canterbury Automobile Association in the protection of wayside beauty and the conservation of scenic forests. The writer warmly commends this good example to other organisations of motorists, and he pleads for a strong mobilisation of all societies and individuals interested. In saving the remnant of the national heritage. “Motorists throughout the Domimon have common cause against any avoidable destruction of bush along our roads and hills,” the writer continues. “Where a sure and definite economic gain *is certain to accrue, there only may be justification for its destruction. Up and down the West Coast, for example, there are many grisly monuments of failure in the shape of ‘farms’ where settlers have broken their hearts in a futile struggle to bring into cultivation land that in the course of nature would grow only its natural and fitting crop of forest. If there were any hope of this forest country even becoming a smiling pasture land none would complain. But too often there is nothing visible but gaunt skeletons of dead timber, fern, blackberry and desolation. Nevertheless, anyone can apply to the Lands Department for and be granted land for farming purposes where there is not even a remote chance of bringing such to farming profit.

“The Groymouth Scenic Preservation committee, at its recent formation meeting, adopted the following resolution: ‘That tne Government he urged (before any further lands were alienated on the West Coast) to instruct the officers of the Lands, Forestry and Scenic Preservation Departments to scrutinise closely the areas offered in order to determine whether the land should ho used for farming or for afforestation or for scenic purposes.’ “Nowadays, to the public generally and to. motorists especially, wherever they may reside, the preservation of our scenic beauty is a vital national matter. The North Aucklander is as much interested in saving the silver pine fringing a Westland road as he is in keeping his own kauri or poliutukawa. The Canterbury citizen is, or should he, as jealous for the welfare of the bush oil the margins of Southland's lakes as lie is for the welfare of the weeping willows of the Avon.”

EACH FOR ALL AND ALL FOR EACH

Previous “Nature—and Man” articles have reminded folk who live near any important scenic asset that they have a national duty in helping to safeguard it. Yet self-interest alone should incite them to be vigilant and active custodians. In fairness to the Forest and Bird Protection Society it must be said that this organisation lias been striving for years to bring into one big •union all the men and women who wish to prevent the stupid spoliation of forests necessary for national welfare.

A MATTER OF “BREAD-AND BUTTER"

Several Ministers of the Crown, while clearly stating their wish to wage effective war against deer and other enemies of the native forest, have remarked that the method of immediate “bread-and-butter” action on behalf of some sections of the public may i limit the finance available for the big insurance policy. Of course, it is neces--1 sary to give assistance to various folk,, 1 hut such a course should not restrict the measures urgently required to assure suppliers of bread and butter for New Zealanders of the future. Already, floods and other erosive forces have destroyed some large areas of farming country, as a sad sequel to the slaughter of forests on watersheds. Unquestionably, the great majority of the public will he pleased to see the Government making amends, as far as possible, for mistakes of the past. “OFF SIDE!” Here is a queer outburst by Mr A. D Kitto, a defender of the deer nuis- | anee, in the “New Zealand Fishing and Shooting Gazette”:— “The New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society has had a lot to say , these past years about the destruction!; clone by deer to our forests and thus i to our bird life. I should like to ask ! what the Society has done, is doing, or.] is going to do, regarding the disgrace- | ful destruction of our wild wood 1 pigeons to make Maori holidays. I shall do more, I ask the Society to send , quietly—oh so very quietly and secret- ■ ly (the Maori is a cunning bird) a real ■ live member to study pigeons and find : out what is going on in National Park 1 and Taupo areas. A truthful report on pigeons would, I feel certain, shock • the New Zealand Native Bird Society out of existence.” 1 Files in the office of the Forest and Bird Protection Society will convince I J Mr Kitto or any other peruser of the ■ papers that the Society has been plead- i ing for years for a better enforcement < of the law against poaching pigeons ; and other birds on the protected lists, j ' The slaughter of native pigeons by 1 callous vandals has been frequently,

exposed by the Society in articles published in many newspapers as well as in its own quarterly magazine, “Forest and Bird.” DAY-BIRTH (Written at Hanmcr in April, 1935, by P. do la M. Barcham) Dawn was born behind the eastern height— Sun-shafts pierced the darksome mountain-pass. Sending a pathway of translucent light Across the frost-encrusted meadowgrass.

There ne’er could he in autumn’s jewelled days So fair a diadem of sky-bathed hue; Opal and amber —agate—chrysoprase— Flame—orange—turquoise ev’ry fleeting hue. The blazing sun-sword sears the sombre cloud With fleeting lambent tints of einmi- _ bar—

Dispelling vagrant night’s star-studded shroyd As day’s sun-herald rises from afar. The frost-clothed virgin fields arc unde tiled By mankind’s vain wealth-questing vandal tread. r fhe wearied falling leaves are reconciled To lie in Mother Earth's life-giving bed. Deep-etched against the hills across the way A changing, pearly mist-design is drawn. Then sounds the bell-bird’s litling, lyric lay — A blithe sun-lover's piping prayer to dawn.