NATIVE BUSH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23930, 4 October 1939, Page 5

NATIVE BUSH

CITY POLICY CRITICISED A PROTEST ENTERED! PRESERVATION SOCIETY FORMED By unanimous decision about 100 citizens, who met in the R.S.A. Social Hall last evening,'decided to form a society for the preservation of native scenery in Otago: Until Dr H. D. Skinner was elected to the office of president, the chair was occupied by Mr P. L. Mocre. Dissatisfaction with the methods sanctioned by the Reserves Committee of the City Council was voiced by several speakers,, and the following motion was sent forward by the meeting:— .•• r . "That this society strongly, Qbjecu to the policy and methods sanctioned by the Reserves Committee of tht City Council in the unnecessary destruction of native bush in and . around Dunedin, and demands their immediate cessation pending future investigation." '-.'., ■: Society's Name . .'' Some discussion took place as' to what the society should be called. Mr G. Howes suggested "The Otago Scenic Preservation Society," and, on Mr H. S. Tiley expressing the opinion that the preservation of native bush and birds should in some way be emphasised in the society's name, Lady Ferguson moved that the title be " The Otago Society for the Preservation of Native Trees and Bush." An amendment that the society should be called "The Otago Native Bush and Scenic Preservation Society," proposed by Mr Campbell Dawkins, was lost, the final decision being to defer, the matter until the committee had considered the whole question of the society's constitution. ~ Election of Officers The election of ■ officers resulted as follows:—President, Dr H. D. Skinner; vice-presidents, Lady Ferguson, , Miss A. Hilljack;. secretary ,and treasurer, Mr G. Howes; committees-Messrs H. S.' Tiley, P. L. Moore, S. M. Brown, Campbell Dawkins,. Mrs R. Dawson, Misses Frances Roberts. V. A. Hay ward and H. Dalrymple, ■■> '■' -.'.-- . i.". ,■ •>' "»..♦'' ;: Aims and, Objects . • 'in'an outline'of the aims and objects of. the. soicety,; Dr Skinner, read put a list which included the. preservation of the flora *of-Otago, resistance to,all attemps.to destroy it and to. the extensive introduction of. foreign shrubs and. noxious growths., an extended planting programme in.easting reserves* active, oppdsition,to the wanton destruction of native bush, and finally; an extensive' plan giving publicity to the matter's the society stood for. '■'.■' - ' :