VANISHING SCENIC RESERVES

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 72, 26 March 1934, Page 7

VANISHING SCENIC RESERVES

N"EW! ZEALAND'S DANGER

PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY

, Observations on the Dominion's scenic reserves, with particular reference to the area near Hordpito, referred to by the Forestry League in "The Post's" columns recently, are supplied by "Vigilant." ' He writes:— Is New Zealand as Cook and the early settlers knew it to vanish completely ?-/■ Every thing., points that way, •Man .has changed the entire^ face of the. country and with :good intentions., he has attempted to preserve areas of tho magnificent forest that this country possessed that it might be handed down to' posterity; : Scattered throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand there are about 950 scenic reserves, embracing, an area of approximately 660,000 acres. But; every year fire ravages some of the reserves and from this and other reasons, sometimes the whole and sometimes portions of these areas are withdrawn from reservation. In this way some of our reserves have dwindled in size 'and it only remains for further fires to occur and additional areas will be cut off. If this process is carried on the fate of our scenic reserves is sealed. . Plenty of cases can be cited where areas liave been completely withdrawn from r.'^rvation or large slices have been taken out of them. It is conceded that in some cases the lifting of the reservation may be permissible, but • the extent to which it is taking place raises serious doubts in many quarters. Now we have the case of the reserve near Horopito, referred to by the Forestry League in a recent issue of the "Evening Post." The facts of this case, as I understand them from an authentic source, are these: The area, portion of the Kongokaupo Hill Scenic Reserve, adjoins the raijway line near Horopito.. Forty acres have been devastated by fire and the assumption is held that the balance will burn sooner or later, therefore it is desired to ; lift the reservation- over an area of 390 acres. "The additional argument is being used that it will provide employment for residents of .Horopito at present out of .work, and there is some suggestion t 0 le plant the area after milling.- Where is this policy going to end? The Department says it only revokes the reservation of seenie reserves after the most careful consideration, but it is, necessary to point out that some of its-field officers are entirely unsympathetic towards scenery preservatibn, and their" decisions may not be free.from bias.. Even.if portion of a reserve is.'destroyed Jiy fire; would it ' not be-better-policy to allpw it to revert tol forest,- as practically all scenic re--serves are worthless 'for.'settlement'? '.■. J£ jthe dead,timber is removed to reduce' the.' fife' risk and-.the reserve is left to. itself and stock; excluded, the. native y'egetationi '.will re-establish-it-, self. If .funds native trees and .shrubs indigenous !to the .area could even be planted. -But it is not lieces-' sary.to do 'that. ' .The writer knows of a reserve, in Queen. Charlotte .Sound where, many years, ago;several acres were'destroyed by fire. -'Today, hardly, a. trace of,. the devastation.' remains. . It has all .reverted, to /second growth. \ The great aim is to preserve our scenic yreserv.es intact. Alien trees cannot1 be 'allowed^ within their boundaries -under any cir- ; cumstances, as otherwise they lose their greatest value—living "-plant museums of New Zealand's natural vegetation. ..The "same policy should applyto national parks, but" unfortunately already exotics have beeii;introduced to Tongariro National Park*-' Why should they be- tolerated? 'Unless we observe the' strictest-rule in this matteS Old New Zealand will vanish. * . ..„ .Unless we jealously guard' Qur'scenic reserves they will practically disappear by effluxibn of time' per of fir.es and milling operations^ ; The proposal to mill the; bush' at ■Horopito is the.most. flagrant breach of the spirit of tKe Scenery Preservation &et it is pos-.' sible to imagine. _ ~-~--