West Coast Times THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1904. SCENERY PRESERVATION.

West Coast Times, Issue 13233, 9 June 1904, Page 2

West Coast Times THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1904. SCENERY PRESERVATION.

The O;ur.fcy Council sp9nt a considerable fimo at. the mert'ng yestarday in dibcirsi it; a re'o'ution tabled by Conn* nillor M Oiflth, the principle involved in which is of importance not only locally b'jt throughout the colony. The resolution read a" follows :—": — " lint in the itituis'sof iho sawmilling industry and the convenience and welfare of the mining community of Dillmans and vicinity, the Council enter an emphatic protest against the reported proposal of ressrving all lands and standing t'mber for a width of khirty-five chains along the Christchurch road from Upper Dillmans to Harris' for 8f o ntc purposes." This resolution bears on a subject of great importance to the future welfare of the colony but it is justly a Bubjeot for fair argument there being much to be said for both Bides of the question. As far as the local County Conncil is concerned it must be admitted that bhej are not au sssfehetic body the voting ©n Councillor M'Grath'n motion being practically unanimous in the affirmative. Of the members who expressed themselves, with one exception they "were unequivocally in favour of utility before (teenic beanty, and one member went co far as to say he did not consider even ten chains should be reserved for eoenery preservation or that any flax should be kept to adorn favoured spots from a fccenic point of view. This of course is an extreme view of the subject but at the same time Councillor M'Grath's motion is an opportune one and will have a good effect in bringing the other side of the question into prominence. At tho present time tbe Scenery Commissioners are visiting the various scenic resorts: throughout the colony and iv a short tima they may be expected to reach the West Coast. It will be for Councillor M'Grath and those woo think with him, then to lay before the Commissioners their views, and if they can show that any industry is being retarded or any hardship inflicted by the reservation of scenic areas their representations will doubtless receive full and favourable consideration.

An expert, who was discussing this subject recently said well— that regarding the relative merits of the different aspects of the subject he placed first in importance, the miner, then the settler and last the tourist. The time ha 3 now arrived, however, when tlxs attractions for the tourist must receive a meed of consideration or hereafter it will ba too late. If the charming native bnsh is ruthlessly cut down everywhere in the interests of commerce it will never be recovered in it s prisMne beauty, and the Colony will lose an asset of immense value for all time.

New Zealand is gaining universal fame for possessing more varied and finer attractions for tourists than any country in the world, and it would surely be the greatest mistake, suicidal policy in fact, to destroy those attractions which even now are a source of revenue, that is yearly increasing. In laying out scenic reservations it is necessary that tho belt of bnsh must be of a certain depth to preserve it from the effect of cutting winds, or, otherwise the bush is likely to die out. In different localities the depth necessary vanes owing to the amount of natural protection afforded by local surroundings, and it is to settle such points a3 this, and also to determine as to Vie conflicting interests of any industries that may be of more pressing importance than scenic preserration that the Scenery Commissioners are making their tour. It will be competent for our County Council therefore vo have said, when the Com' missioners visit this district to bring such considerations before them, as they may deem right and proper.