PRESERVING SCENIC BEAUTIES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 65, 3 April 1937, Page 6

PRESERVING SCENIC BEAUTIES

-Press Association.)

Remits Dealt With at Conference NATIONAL BASIS WANTED

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, This Day. Steps towards co-ordinating the work of preserving the natural beauties of the country and making "this very beautiful Dominion even more beautiful" were taken at a large and representative conference held in Parliament Buildings yesterday. Tt was decided to recommend the Government to appoint an interim committee to consider the constitution of a national organisation for the conservation of native vegetation and for amenity planting. Sponsored by the New Zealand Counties' Association, a remit recommending the Government to amend the law to enable public bodies to acquire land to proteet scenic assets adjoining public roads or public water ways was earried. On behalf of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, the foilowing remit was moved: — (1) "That tiue- Government be asked to under take a classification of all land in New Zealand at present covered with standing bush with a view to the prohibition of further clearing . (a) in all cases where such cleaxing would be detrimental, (b) in all other caces.except when satisfied that the land so eleared will be economically utilised. (2) That the Government be requested, in its forthcoming legislation to provide for the prevention of the destruction of bush facing any new road or railway or newly-designated main highway, pending inspeetion from the Seenery Preservation Board, but of not more than 10 chains in depth or to the nearest ridge crest." It was decided to refer the remit to the national organisation, Mr F. Milner (Oamaru) moved: "(1) That the Government be recommended to appoint an interim committee representative of appropriate national o**ganisations and of the Government, to consider the outline of a proposed constitution of a national organisation foi the conservation of New Zealand native vegetation and for ' amenity planting submitted to the conference to-day, and in the light of criticisms of that scheme submitted here to-day or subsequently submitted in writing, to draft a suitablu constitution. (2) That on the approval of such constitution by the Government, the interim committee should" be direc- • ted to proceed in such a manner as ma) be found practicable to bring the national organisation with district councils and local committees into being. ' ' The remit was earried. A further remit passed recommended • that the Coronation of His Majesty King George VI. should, wherever possible, be celebrated by appropriate plantings of trees and that the occasion oi New Zealand 's centennial in 1940 be marked by the planting of trees as memorials to the pioneers. His Excelleney was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for presiding. Appreeistion was expressed also of the presence of Mr Parry and Mr Langstone, and of the valuable information and helpful advice they had given.