OUR NATIONAL PARK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 8

OUR NATIONAL PARK.

HEATHER HILLS IN PROSPECT. FUTURE AIMS. The neglect- of the Tongariro National Park was again mentioned in tho House of Representatives last evening by Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., who directed attention to a vote of £100 proposed last year, upon tho Lands Estimates, for expenditure upon tho park. Of this amount, ho pointed out, only £1 had been spent. Ho hoped more would be done this year. Tho control of tho park was in the hands of the Toii£ariro Domain Board, upon which the Prime Minister had a seat. The whole control of tho park was in the hands of tho board, and he hoped the Prime Minister would give an assurance that tho whole £100 would bo spent tin's year. It was vital that this should bo done, and the necessary roads constructed. It was also desirable, said Dr. Newman, that tho park should_ be enlarged to include impitessive neighbouring scenery. The park as at present constituted camo but little below tho snow-line, and enlargement was necessary to preserve the peculiar native fauua of the district. Tho Prime Minister said that he had just heard for the first time that he was chairman of tho Tongariro Park Board. Dr. Newman: Havo you just discovered it? Mr. Massey: I discovered it to-night. Mr. Witty: Have you drawn your salary ? * . Mr. Massey: There is no salary. Ho added that he would bo able to take a little more interest henceforth in the park. When discussing tho position of the park with the members of the Forestry Commission.'ho was unaware of the fact that ho was chairman of the board, but the members of tho commission agreed with tho opinion expressed by some members of Parliament that the boundaries of tho park should bo enlarged. If tho other members of tho Ministry agreed he would be glad to give effect to this opinion. - Dr. Newman: This session?

Mr. Massey: I don't know about this session. I could do it in the Washingup Bill, no doubt. Dr. NcwmaJ.: Hoar, hear. Mr. Massey said that a well-known Wellington resident had, ijnported _ a quantity of Scotch heather seed, which had been sown upon the hills in tho park area. Before long they should bo covered with beautiful blooming heather. ,

Several members: Noxious weed I _ Mr. J. A. Young: It is a noxious weed in my district. Mr. Massey: Not the Scotch' or,lrish heather. Only the New Zealand heather.