A STRONG APPEAL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 59, 7 September 1926, Page 10

A STRONG APPEAL

NATIONAL PARK POL^Y

PRESERVING NATIVE FLORA AND

FAUNA.

The importance of the adoption of the policy of keeping the Tongariro National Park inviolate from the introduction of exotic plants and foreign animals and birds was. urged upon the Mayor. to-day by a deputation of tHe New Zealand Forestry League. Mr. A. L. Hunt, acting-president of the New Zealand Forestry League, said that the deputation had come to see the Mayor in his capacity of member of the Tongariro National Park Board. There were very few national parks in New Zealand, and it would be admitted that our flora >and bird life were well worth preserving. There was no desire to have the ■ Tongariro Park shut up; in fact, the desire was that the people of the Dominion should enjoy the natural beauties of what was a great national asset; and especially was it desired that we should preserve our New Zealand bush and bird life. Some years ago a few enthusiasts introduced heather from Scotland and planted it in the Park. It was well known from bitter and costly experience in this country that many birds, animals, and plants which did little harm in other coun tries, when introduced here, became pests which did enormous damage. The desire was that the park should be kept sacred for the native flora and fauna. The Forestry League was supported in this matter by the New Zealand Institute, the Institute of Horticulture, and other bodies. Mr. W. H. Denton, president of the Wellington branch of the Forestry League, supported the statements made by Mr. Hunt. He said that the Tongariro National Park Board a year ago passed a resolution to eradicate the. heather, but so far nothing Tiad been done in that direction. Mr. E. C. Jack emphasised the fact that in America and Switzerland the policy had been adopted that the national parks should ,be kept inviolate. Although it might not now be possible with the limited funds of the National Park Board to eradicate the heather completely, an effort should be made to keep it under control. In reply, the Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) said he appreciated the feellings which prompted the representations made by the deputation. He did not, however, know sufficient about the question to come to a decision at once, but what had been said would weigh very strongly with him in any decision he might come to. As to the eradication of the heather, that was a matter that did not seem to him to come within the practical range of the finances of the board,.at any rate at present. He would carefully consider what had been said. The arguments put forward by the members of the deputation would weigh very materially with him in the part he took in the deliberations of the board.