ALPINE GARDENS PLANNED

Chronicle (Levin), 30 October 1946, Page 7

ALPINE GARDENS PLANNED

— Press Association

PRESERVING NATURAL BEAUTY

Bv Teleoravh

ROTORUA, Oct. 29. Planned attempts are to be made to combine beauty witli utility at eertain mountain resorts. In giving tliis inforniation tlie Minister of Tourist and Health Resorts, Hon. W. E. Parry, stated that the- Departraent was aboui to mahe a thorougli survey of eertain alpine resorts nnder its control, witli the objeet of preserving unique flora, beautifying the surroundings of tourist hotels, and of malcing a practical move to check soil erosion in the high country. The survey to be undertaken would determine tlie location of natural alpine gardens in which would be pre served speciniens of high -country vege tation. Such gardens would enhance the natural beauty of resorts by transforining areas that were now a wilder ness into places of flora loveliness dur ing the snow-free months. The deeora tive value of native mountain plants, intelligentlv massed aecording to tlieii speeies, would be fairly constant for a great part of the year. "The scheme will, of course, tatu some time to implenxent, " said Mt Parry, "but a delinite start is to be made witliin a few weeks ahd the trans f'ormation of a verv large area within a few years is antieipated. "

The eooperation of competent botani eal and other experts would be enlisted. The national signilicanee or the projject would be readily understood aml appreeiated by everyone interested in the preservation of the country 's native flora. Mr. Parrv pointed out that eonditions at the Hermitage, a-nd to a lesser degree at the Chateau Tongariro, made it impossible to do much in the wav of beautifying tlu immediate surroundings of those hotels with exotic flowering plants, amost ordinary garden plants could noi be raised in such high localities. There apxxeared to be no valid reason, liow ever, whv use should not be made oi innuinerable varieties of singular meril that were native to areas, and that were of interest as well as, in some cases Ipossessing outstanding beauty. j "I am eertain the efl'orts now being made," concluded Mr. Parry, "will be regarded with satisfaction by natuiv lovers who have viewecl with alarm tlu prospect of rare and unique speeies of our flora disappeariug before the on slauglit of introduced grazing animals such as cliamois, tliar, deer and in some cases sheep. "