Father And Son Speakers At Otaki Meeting

Chronicle (Levin), 5 March 1949, Page 2

Father And Son Speakers At Otaki Meeting

Items of topical interest were touched oh by two guest speakers at the month.y %meeAng of ihe Otaki Home and School Assfeciation, whicn was'he d on Thursday night, with Mr. A. G. Kirkwood7, presiding. ihe first speaker, Mr. J. G. MacKenzie, formerly dir'ec-or of parks and reserves in We.iington, discussed . erosion and Ihe ultimate drilting of sand at the sea beaches. He offered helpful advice on the ^building of stirub fences to create ^sandnills to arres^ the drift, and iater the jaianting of marram grass and various types of trees: He gave Isuggestions as to the attention necessary after p.anting. . Mr. MacKenzie said that he considered Otaki was ideal y situated ior tree planting . in the streets. "Picture " Otaki with every street pianted; trees are part of the beauty of many cities," the speaker stated. He gave instances of successe's achieved e'sewhere, and visualised an avenue of trees from the river brMge to the town in yea-rs to come, which would make Otatd famous. 'Mr. Mackenzie added that the jbb would require to be done properly, and that it was the wrong idea to "just dig a hole, -plant a tree and then leave it." He suggested that tree nurseries would be .very helpful. "An ugly street can be transformed into a thing of beauty, simply by planting the fight type of trees aiong it." He concluded by offering ideas of how to finance the projeet, and stated that the work would prove really worthwhile if attempted. Mr. H. Taylor, chairman of the School Committee, in thanking the speaker, referred to the 150 ponutukawas already in a nursery preparatory to being pianted at Tasman Beach, and said that Mr. MacKenzie's suggestions should receive serious consideration. Mr. J. Hewitson agreed, and expressed the wish that the school encourage this projeet. Other speakers .expressed similar .views. The second guest speaker, Mr. W. MacKenzie, :son of the previous speaker, and a Massey CoFege lecturer, discussed^ recreational reserves and the need that existe'd to cater for. children' &nd adolescents by providing suitable play areas. ! . He submitted interesting figures giving the average hours of work, sleep, meals and leisure which madeu.up th.e.ygar,,,^ exprqssed the view that un^ss f^cilities were . available for leisure time to be employed there would continue to be vandalism. "The facilities- for healthy, clean rocreation * must be provided,"', continued the speaker. The Department of Internal Affairs was inciined ' to the view that 7£ acres should be made q,vaFab:e for every 1000 head of population,, and that all classes of • the community should be catered for. Mr. R. Bills, in thanking the speaker, felt that his remarks would have found great favour with a host of carnival workers had they been present, and agreed that they were certainly high'y topical and -worthy of practica^ consideration, views which were supported by other members of the association. Both speakers were accorded a hearty .vote of thanks for their interesting and instructive addresses.