NATIONAL PARK BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1926, Page 11

NATIONAL PARK BOARD.

THE GOAT QUESTION. REAFFORESTATION OF LANDS. At a meeting yesterday of the Mt. Egmont National Park . Board, there were present: Messrs. - T. C. List (chairman), J. S. Connett, G. Fraser, W. D. Armit, P. Thomson, T. Anderson, T. B. Grump and C. Goodson. The committee set up to deal with the goat problem reported that the Minister for Lands had promised assistance to the extent of £250. A meeting of sportsmen and. settlers had been held and measures for coping with the pest considered. —The board confirmed the committee’s action in appointing special rangers to work the mountain and kill the goats, and to review the position after the men had been operating for a month. The committee appointed to inspect and. report upon, the condition of the open lands, near Oakura, formerly leased to neighbouring farmers, reported that they were in a very bad state, being mostly covered with gorse, blackberry and other rubbish. They recommended that a start be made with reafforesting the areas, and in this connection submitted an estimate of the cost of undertaking 50 acres this year. They pointed out that reafforestation was the only way in which the weed menace could, effectually be combated; it would also protect the native bush, already subjected to damage by fire and weather, and provide the board with J revenue in the future. | Members spoke approvingly of the i proposal, which, they felt, would appeal i particularly to the contributing local | bodies. The only question was the abili ity of the board to find the necessary ; finance. I l ife chairman said that . the revenue I from opossums this season should be I not less than £250, which, in his view, : should be ear-marked for afforestation. Mr. Anderson was of opinion that i they should go ahead with the work i even if they had to spread the cost over I two years, if such an arrangement could [’be effected. When the local bodies and | the Government knew they were engaged on this truly national work they would be more disposed to accord the board the necessary financial support. Mr. Armit agreed that planting pinus insignia was the only way to .keep down the . noxious weeds, instancing what had been done in. this connection at the Pukerangiora reserve. At the same time he felt they should be able to see financial daylight ahead before embarking upon the scheme. Mr. Connett said this was a work that concerned the whole province, not merely the northern end of it, for reafforestation meant not only conserving the present bush, but providing an assured source of revenue for the working of the mountain in the future. For that reason the whole of the mountain committees should get behind the board in this matter and find the necessary money. After further discussion it was decided to approve of the committee’s, recommendations and to empower it to go into the question of finance with a view to making a start with the work this season if possible. In answer to a. question the chairman stated that the northern committee had no intention of making any alteration in the charges and services hi connection with the old house or eottage. The accommodation would still be available as heretofore, to the people at the present charges. Mr. W. D. Armit was appointed to the northern committee, which subsequently met and considered matters in connection with the management of the northern- houses, decision being deferred until the 30th Inst., when another meeting is to be held. It was decided to re-erect the gate a chain further away from the reserve, permission to do so having been obtained from the local authority and Highways Board.