Prime Minister Promises Nature Conservancy Council

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 14

Prime Minister Promises Nature Conservancy Council

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, April 27. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake' told a deputation today that the proposal for a Nature Conservancy Counci' would be implemented shortly. The deputation—Messrs R. C Nelson (president), D Bowie and Dr. C. H. Johnson of the New Zealand Forest and Bird Protection Society, and Mr A. Caccia Birch, of the Rangitiki Scenery Preservation Society—waited on Mr Holyoake to discuss the possible destruction of timber in the Manapouri and Te Anau areas and the formation of the council to safeguard New Zealand’s scenic resources. Mr Holyoake told the deputation the proposal for the nature conservancy council had already been considered by the Cabinet and that it would be formed shortly. Mr Holyoake said later that the conference had been most amicable. “On the question of forming a conservancy council. I told them that this had been our expressed policy at election time, and that it had not changed. “The question has been briefly before the Cabinet on two occasions, and the Minister of Lands and Forests <Mr Gerard) is working on it” Mr Nelson said he was more than pleased with the manner in which Consolidated

Zinc had shown its willingness to compromise.

"Until now it appeared that all the efforts and protests of our society and the many other citizens and organisations had fallen on stony ground.” said Mr Nelson. “It has been a tremendous relief since this interview was first mooted to find that this is not so, and that the Government and the company have been able to make some heartening progress. "We are not without hope that, ultimately. New Zea-

land will have the very great industry under conditions which will leave no heartburnings or rancour. “There must be cognisance of the possibility of trees above the line of maximum rise in levels dying due to unaccustomed ‘wet feet,’ as well as the likelihood of slips occurring round the lake due to saturation of unstable slopes at the new levels,” Mr Nelson told Mr Holyoake.

“When I visited the lakes last week I was shocked to learn that burning had been approved as a means of disposing of surplus vegetation. Burning, related to national parks, is as near anathematical as anything could be. Fire is the arch-enemy of native bush and natural scenery, and fire in a national park is a complete negation of the purpose and spirit of the act. "I believe the intention is to drag the felled bush to the water s edge and there bum it. If that is to be done. I

cannot too strongly appeal to you to ensure that no possible risk shall be taken at any time when the adjacent bush is dry enough to burn ” Mr Nelson said that any permanent rise in the levels of Lake Te Anau would ultimately cause devastation along about 240 miles of shoreline with, possibly, 120 miles on Lake Manapouri. This might take a considerable number of years, but it would be inevitable.

“It will happen not in a small reserve, but in one of the world’s greatest national parks, and it would be a catastrophe which would engender opprobium by future generations because of our lack of vision today. "If it is to be necessary to do anything to alter the levels of Te Anau, then the alteration downwards during dry spells is infinitely preferable. because, although an alteration downwards will expose unsightly mud shores, a* least the waters can be raised again and the effects will be only temporary, and not permanent as in the case of the destruction of the trees,” said Mr Nelson.

MINOR FIRES Fire engines were called to two minor fires in the city yesterday. At 8.10 a.m. a unit from the Central Fire Station and one from Woolston were called to a small fire in a factory at 36 Breezes road. It was found that an oil heater had caught fire; and there was no damage. The factory, which manufactures trailers, is owned by J. F Reaby. At 4.42 p m. a call was received to Oatina Mills. Ltd.. at 81 Byron street. A bearing in machinery had overheated, setting fire to woodwork. The fire was extinguished by one unit from the Sydenham fire station. There was no damage.