DEANS BUSH

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24914, 29 June 1946, Page 8

DEANS BUSH

EXAMPLE OF NEGLECT QUOTED INCOME NECESSARY FOR UPKEEP “The Deans Bush as it stands today is an outstanding example of neglect?” said Mr H. Kitson, a member of the Waimairi County Council, yesterday. ‘‘l do not blame the trustees; they have struggled for years to improve conditions. They have never had an income sufficient to carry out the necessary care and maintenance, and as they do not know what their income will be in the future, they are unable to formulate any long term policy.

“It is not the purchase price that worries me—it i§ the fact that unless a proper income is provided to care both for the present bush and the additional land, it will only become in time another of the many disgraces to our community. Harsh words, perhaps; but remember the condition to-day of a few —the Sign of the Bell Bird, the Sign of the Takahe. the museum, the financially .starved Botanic Gardens and parks, the National Park at Arthur’s Pass. These were once our pride , and joy; to-day they are our shame.

“We think the Government should pay or some one else—anybody but ourselves. We praise our pioneers and extol their foresight for providing Hagley Park and the gardens and haggle amongst ourselves as to who should pay for the upkeep. Most of the local bodies were only too glad to hand over their heritage and responsibilities, so that they could slide out of paying for the proper upkeep. “As a rough guess, and I think I am over generous. 50 per cent, of the people don’t know and don’t care where the bush is; 30 per cent, know where it is but have never been in it or want to: 10 per cent, are mildly interested if some one else pays for it; 9 per cent, w”ild help ? some way and- Vizit i-y- ally; ? per cent I ceaßp care / ■« it"