NEW METHOD OF CONTROL OF PARKS URGED

Chronicle (Levin), 21 May 1947, Page 6

NEW METHOD OF CONTROL OF PARKS URGED

—Press Association

By Telegrapu-

WELLLN GTUJN , May 2U. The setting up of speeial State Department of Conservation whieh would have eontrol of publie reserves and parks, including the Waipoua kauri forest, was advocated today by Dr. W R. B. Oliver in his opening address to the general botany session of the sixtli science congress of the Eoyal Society

of-New Zealand. ' Large areas such an the national paf ks, should have local boards of con £rol but government administration of conservation in general, including the administration of Acts of Parliament' The setting up the various reserves should be handled by oue department only," Dr. Oliver added. "What is required is a method of declaring certain areas to be parks, seenie reserves, sanctuari.es, and so on and then handing them over to a Department of Conservation that ' has no statutory power to allow their use for any other purpose. There is plenty of work for such a department as it natuarlly would carry out eontrol measures for deer, goats and other forest damaging animals. In fact it would be concerned with all matters that pertain to the conservation of our native plants and animals. It is not good policy to allow permanent reserves to remain under the control of dcpartments whieh at any time can convert trees into timber."