THE FIRST STEP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 13, 3 June 1914, Page 4

THE FIRST STEP.

The Government has taken the first step in what we trust will bo the revocation of its decision respecting the Everett Road Reserve. It has been decided to withdraw from sale tho timber on tho reserve. This news will be hailed with satisfaction by ail interested in the preservation of our native bush and this particular beauty spot. It is difficult to. understand how the Government came to be persuaded to throw this comparatively small area open for settlement, and thereby to rob the public and posterity of a very valuable scenic asset. Uad it comprised five hundred or a thousand acres of land suitable, for cutting up it would have been a different matter. In any case, no land set aside as a scenic reserve should bo interfered with by any Government without first making quite certain of thenocessity for so doing. In this case, the Government has evidently listened to the plausible story of parties whoso regard for the interests of the public has not been very pronounced, and now it is beginning to see tho mistake it has been led into making. The Government is to be commended for changing its mind on the matter, though it would liiave shown more wisdom had it looked into things a little more closely before acting as it did. We only hope we have heard the last about sacrificing this reserve of tho people, not of Inglewood alote, but oS tho whole country, to satisfy the caprice, of a small section who cannot tolerate tho existence of some of Nature's most beautiful handiwork in their midst.