"NO FUNDS AVAILABLE"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 1, 24 August 1943, Page 7

"NO FUNDS AVAILABLE"

Ever since lliis country was colonised tlie almost invariable reply from Government Departments to any appeal lor national funds in aid of forest and native bird preservation has been "no funds available." The. conservation of these has been left largely to private effort. A minor example of this lack of funds for conservation occurred quite recently. An assistant carctakership for an important sanctuary became vacant. The Forest and Bird Protection Society, hearing of this, wrote to a young native bird enthusiast suggesting that he. apply tor the position. Enquiries, however, elicited the information that the Avages allowed were on'ly £2 per Avcck plus the bounty on certain noxious exotic animals which avouUl bring the wage, up to £2 10s Avith free Avhare accommodation. On being informed of the low Avage the proposed, applicant Avrote "II am getting £8 per wec'k at a saAvmil.l for helping to tie-i stroy the forest. 1 have a mother to keep who never let me starve and I am not going to let her starve!" Such examples, as this indicate which way the financial wind blows.

On the other hand there are the makings of line national parks, many sanctuaries and scenic reserves, few of which have entailed much outlay of cash. They are, however, valuable because they have been set aside as reservations. Scarcely any, however, have wardens, and an area cannot be looked, upon as a sanctuary unless it is adequately administered and wardened. Without these factors, any area merely adjusts itself, so far as its inhabitants are concerned, to conditions obtaining 'in the surrounding country. Efficient administration and Avardening costs money, which is not, and never has been, forthcoming except in quite inadequate allotments. This lack of appreciation of the great value of such natural resources as the native forest and bird life becomes a most serious matter in these war-times; for when the native forest and other native vegetation is dcstroj'cd on the watersheds, erosion leading to the loss of fertile; soil goes on with ever-in-creasing effect. Little or no check "is being put on deer, opossums, goats., rabbits and other enemies of native vegetation. Shooting seasons and ammunition arc granted for native birds, but the latter is difficult, to procure for rabbit and deer shooting. Add to such an unfortunate and paradodxieal state of affairs, that that sure killer of prosperity—inflation—is here to-day. The future outlook is therefore truly depressing so far as forest and wildlife, and with them soil fertility and everything else, are concerned. The longer the war continues the graver the position will be. The cry will surely then be "no funds available," and they are scarcely likely to be .procurable from anywhere. Then the full weight of past negligence in conserving the country's national resources will be apparent. Man the arch predator Avill have destroyed so efficiently that ho will have made his own existence precarious;, if not impossible, not only in New Zea'land but in many other countries, leading possibly to famine, plague, and internal strife. Let us hope, however, that, some great and able thinker will: arise to lead man away from his hereditary predatory instincts to a realisation of a'll that is beautiful and wonderful in nature, and at the same time essential to his own wellbeing.—Forest and Bird.