PROTECTING WILD FLOWERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19691, 18 July 1927, Page 12

PROTECTING WILD FLOWERS

LABOUR MINISTER'S EDICT.

EFFORT TO CHECK VANDALISM [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SYDNEY. July 7.

One of the first acts of the new Minister of Local Government, Mr. Stokes, a former Lord Mayor, is to make aggressive war upon those who are going about the country, especially at week-ends, ruthlessly rooting out the quickly-vanishing wild flowers. The news that Mr. Stokes has decided to prohibit, for one year, the picking of certain species of wild flowers in New South Wales, is welcomed by those who deplore the destruction of the past three or four decades, although it is somewhat puzzling to them to know that the prohibition is only for one short year. It is regarded, however, as at least a good gesture, which can be effectively supported by a more enlightened public opinion. Take the beautiful and fragrant boronia, which, in other countries, would probably be carefully protected if only for its commercial properties. The places where one may fill the eye with beauty of it, and the nostrils, with its delicate fragrance, are rapidly becoming fewer and fewer. The" flower sellers now give to Martin Place, in the heart of the city, quite an old world beauty with their stands laden with flannel flowers, Christinas bells, Waratahs, and other reigning beauties in Flora's great domain. Sydney would probably protest strongly if these flowers were to disappear from its old thoroughfare, and is wondering what will happen as a result of the Minister's edict.

It has been suggested that those who gather flowers on Crown lands for commercial purposes should be regulated by licence, thus bringing the traffic under control and eliminating its undesirable features. The war. fundamentally, is against the "week-enders," who ruthlessly tear out roots and all, and deck motorcars with flowers which quickly fade, for the mere so-called "sport" of the thing.