NATIVE TREES CHOSEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20333, 14 August 1929, Page 12

NATIVE TREES CHOSEN.

THE MEMORIAL MUSEUM.

FORMER DECISION REVOKED

STRONG APPEAL BY DEPUTATION

EXPERT ASSISTANCE CO-OPTED

Tho controversy concerning the variety of trees to be planted about the War Memorial Museum in Iho Domain was ended yesterday, when the Parks Committee of tho City Council revoked the decision to plant exotics and appointed a committee, consisting of its chairman, Mr. J. B. Pntcrson, the superintendent of parks, Mr. T. D. Pearson, and three members of the Institute of Horticulture, Messrs. David Hay, W. H. Rice and E. Morrison, to choose tho trees to be planted, preference to be given to Now Zealand plants. In view of tho lateness of the season the committee is to meet as soon as possible to make its decision. The change of plans was mndo after a large deputation had urged tho claims of New Zealand trees, and tho alteration is subject'to tho approval of (lie council. Sir Georgo Fowlds said tho Institute of Horticulture had taken an interest in the trees to be planted about tho memorial, and tho main point they wished to emphasise was thair belief that tho trees should bo natives of New Zealand. He "wni not one to say that there should not be any exotics. Ho believed in beautifying tho city and 111 educating the people concerning the plants of other parts of th</ world, but the planting about tho memorial was a different matter. The memorial was in honour of New Zealand men, and tho institute thought that only New Zealand trees should bo grown in tho neighbourhood. Tho members would gladly assist tho council in coming to a decision.

Use of Foreign Stone. "Speaking on behalf of the Returned Soldiers' Association, I can safely say that wo shall be gravely disappointed if we find the memorial surrounded by other than New Zealand trees," said Mr. A. C. A. Sexton, president of that body. It was a marvellous building, but the erection of it in a foreign stone was a mistake. Even the very heart of the memorial, the shrine, was made of imported stone. Mr. Sexton said that whiles the men were away their thoughts of New Zealand always produced pictures of the native bush, and it was his belief that the surroundings of the memorial should be made the location of a collection of native flora. Ho asked that whatever the decision of the committee, it should not plant too many trees or allow thorn to become too high. "It seems to mo that it would be an insult to plant, anything other than New Zealand trees," said Miss B. E. Carnachan, president of tho National Council of Women. Tho native trees, Miss Carnachan added, wero emblematic of all the finest- characteristics of the men whose memory was being honoured. Replying to a question, Mr. G. A. Green, secretary of the New Zealand Horticultural Trades' Association, said that no trees would do better in the vicinity of/the memorial than the natives of New .Zealand. ' yj-.. . Pohutukawa and Puriri.

. Mr. D. A. Hay said the Indian cedar was entirely unsuitable for the locality, but the pohutukawa and the puriri were peculiarly adapted to the formation there. Air. J. B. Paterson, chairman of the committee, said it was a pity the deputation had waited so leng before presenting its views The plans for planting the surrouridinga of the memorial had been adopted two and a-half years ago, and the present Parks Committee had merely decided to put thorn into effect in order to have the area in an improved state for the opening ceremony in November. The committee, as it was now constituted, had had no hand in choosing the trees to be plar.ted. In view of the discussions that had taken place in the newspapers it had suspended the planting of the cedars, which it was intended to put in at the Maunscll Road entrance, until it had heard tho views of the deputation. Asked who had approved the plan, Mr. Paterson said that the council, the committee and the War Memorial Committee had all had a hand in it. "I do not like this hole-and-corner business," a member of the deputation Said.

"There has not been any hole-and-corner business, and I will not have that sort of talk here," Mr. Paterson replied .sharply. "We welcome your assistance, but I insist that you withdraw the remark." ' The incident was closed by Mr. W. 11. Rice extending the thanks of the deputation for the reception accorded them. Ho said that leaving aside all question of sentiment the native trees would do better in the •Domain and would prove tho best economic proposition. Messrs. Hay, Rice and Morrison were nominated by the deputation when Mr. 'Paterson intimated that the committee would ho pleased to have tho assist#ice of members of the institute in choosing suitable trees.