NATURE—AND MAN

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20465, 4 April 1938, Page 9

NATURE—AND MAN

A RIGHT KIND OF TRUST FOR PRESERVATION OF BEAUTY “England under Trust!” At first sight, some New Zealanders might have an impression that such a title for a book was an Indication of exposures of rapacious schemes of monopolists and other moneymongers. Happily it is a ohronicle of activities of the admirable National Trust which was founded in 1895, largely through the devoted labours of three enthusiasts, Miss Octavia Hill, Canon Rawnsley and Sir Robert Hunter, who foresaw that a body such as the Trust was the only possible means whereby the beauty of the English -scene and the things which have been built into it could be saved [ from spoliation and, preserved. In the preface to llie book, the ! author, J. Dixon .Scott, says that under the articles of incorporation the Trust was given powers to acquire places of natural beauty as well as buildings of , historic interest. “The Trust,” he continues, ” has grown magnificently. To-day, less than half a century from its inception, it owns thousands of acres of beautiful country and coastal cliffs as well as many line old houses and cottages of historic and architectural interest. And the number of these properties is rapidly increasing, testifying to the re-awakened consciousness of the greatness of our National heritage. In the first months of 1937 places as varied as a strip of • Cornish coast, on island lying off the Isle of Man and an old coaching inn in the heart of London have all been presented to the Trust.” A Stirring Passage Here is a passage (in the Foreword by Professor G. M. Trevelyan), which should -stir the minds of many New Zealanders:—“Such is the generosity of landlords, or single donors and of the public in its response to appeals for money that the Trust now holds well over 50,000 acres in ownership and protects well over i O,OOO acres by Covenants. •The principle of protection by Covenants made with the National Trust is ot recent date and is more and more coming the front: it, enables an owner to preserve the property and Ihe rents of the land as his own and liis heirs’, and enables him still to sell i' for its agricultural value, but debars him or any future owner from building on the land or otherwise altering its use except by permission of the National Trust. Many who Jove their lands are willing thus to forgo their building value for the sake of preserving their beauty. And where compensation has to be found for such dedication of land, the money that it is necessary to raise for such a purpose is much less than for outright purchase. Jt is by such Covenants that the Buttermere Valley and the southern part of the Malvern Hills haVe recentiv i been saved. I Only at the Beginning ">i\ly thousand acres is still ter- : ri.bly little for the whole country, hut ; the 'mo\<-ment is only at its beginning - :•« I. as is shown by the constant march "t .National Trust ownership and »ovenanls in Lakeland, in Imvedab- uid on "hal is still left of the English coast- i line. There is widespread enlhu.sia*m and generosity which leads many people to do what individuals cm j to save the land’s beauty, and may ( some day awake public men f, take public action in the same cause, nr such enthusiasm to help the w ;r\- | this book of Mr Dixon-Scotl s is itself | a striking example.” The Forest and Bird Protection Society has taken similar action in New Zealand,