PARK BOARD PUBLICITY

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1934, Page 8

PARK BOARD PUBLICITY

ACTION OF SPECIAL MEETING ADMISSION OF THE PRESS. EGMONT RECOMMENDATION.

The Egmont County. Council yesterday made a recommendation to the Egmont National Park Board to admit the Press to future meetings with a view to having the proceedings reported. The resolution was an outcome of a

report made by Cr. G. Gibson, the council’s representative at the special meeting of the board held last week to consider the cutting of timber on the, east, side of the mountain. Cr. Gibson said the authority of the Park Board had been abused in the matter, and after a meeting lasting several hours the board decided to put a stop to the cutting of timber. The whole board realised that if the forest were denuded the province would be detrimentally affected, but it was noticeable that around the outskirts of the mountain there was not that spirit of helpfulness that the board deserved in its undertaking. The board had been fully alive to what had been going on, proceeded Cr. Gibson, and it had taken steps to stop it. It should have as much help as possible from all concerned. He was satisfied that under the circumstances the board had done the best thing possible. He made this explanation to show that the council’s representatives were doing their best to look after the interests of the province. Cr. J. S.- Tosland, also a representative on the board, added to the statement and referred to the time when the road was being formed at the eastern side and the forest was cut, for a chain width. The East Committee asked permission to make use of the ' dead timber in this portion, but he alleged it did not stop at the haff chain on either side. , , The Park Board set up a committee to investigate, and the committee was so struck with the action of the East Committee that Mr. Waters called the Park Board together. Cr. Gibson and the speaker took the view that the East Committee had gone from one extreme to the other in order to remedy its finances. No one was more alive to the necessity of preserving the forest than Cr. Gibson and himself, and both worked whole-heartedly to that end. Cr. Tosland held that there should be no discrimination in attacks on the forest, and no stone should be left unturned to check damage. Accordingly he moved that the Press should be admitted to the meeting. He believed that even if it did harm to some it would do good to others. He felt that the Press should have been admitted. The chairman (Mr. Green): Why was the Press excluded? Cr. Gibson said his view was that at the special meeting it was, under the circumstances, advisable to allow unfettered, plain speaking. Cr. Young commended the Egmont representatives on the stand they had taken. Cr. Collins said he believed the reason for keeping the Press out was that someone was going to get into trouble. He considered it would have been advisable to have had the Press at the meeting. Crs. Farquhar and Willcox endorsed this view, and the motion was then carried.