THE H.B. TRIBUNE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1933 A THREATENED DESECRATION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 227, 7 September 1933, Page 6

THE H.B. TRIBUNE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1933 A THREATENED DESECRATION.

A message from Rotorua yesterday and a letter that appears upon another page of this issue deal with a subject that should command public attention not in this district alone, but throughout the Dominion. The Rotorua message told us of the quite unnecessary damage that is being done by the Post and Telegraph Department’s workmen in the course of putting a telephone line through the beautiful native bush which is traversed by the Roto-rua-Waikaremoana tourist route. It further stated that the native owners of part of this bush now contemplate “clearing” a substantial area for fanning purposes. The letter comes from a member of the committee that was, some two or three years ago, set up by the Hastings Chamber of Commerce to investigate the position and to urge upon the Government the need for carefully preserving this bush and for constituting the area a scenic reserve for all time. In the result, so it is said, the Government gave a definite promise that the representations made would have every favourable consideration at its hands. Yet we now learn that a Government department is guilty of commiting quite avoidable spoil, seemingly in close proximity to the line of the road itself, while apparently no move is being made to avert the complete destruction of that part of the bush which is still in Maori ownership. This is surely in no way in keeping with the promise stated to have been made, nor does it, apart altogether from aesthetic considerations, show any appreciation of the intrinsic value to the country of this lovely and splendid gift of Nature to its people. Already New Zealand has established itself as a tourist resort of quite substantial dimensions. but from many outside

quarters we have assurance that its tourist traffic can be immeasurably expanded if only those in authority go the right way about it. That right way is certainly not going to be found in permitting of the wanton destruction of the natural beauties of the country that constitute the main atraction for travellers of the tourist class—a great proportion of them blessed to the full with the “purchasing power” of which we are hearing so much from our economists as essential to our ultimate material salvation. In this respect alone there cannot be the slightest doubt as to the eventual value of this big area of splendid bush country, much of it of a completely unique character.

Then, again, as our correspondent points out, this bush provides a splendid sanctuary wherein to preserve the native bird-life of the country which is being threatened in many ways will) practical extinction, though also forming an added attraction for the stranger within our gates. Then, further, and from a purely utilitarian point of view, none know better than we in this part of Hawke’s Bay how the wasteful flooding of rivers traversing valuable agricultural areas has been aggravated by the denudation of the hill country at the back of us. This, too, cannot but be one of the results of allowing such similar destruction to be carried out as is now said to be meditated. It may also be said that tourists from abroad are not the only ones whose taste for the beautiful in nature has to be consulted. It would be well for us all were such taste more fully cultivated among our own people, who are altogether too much given over to finding their pleasure in the artificialities that modern life supplies with a quite over-bounteous hand. We should all be much better folk and much pleasanter to live with were there, a good deal more of the communing with Nature that has so soothing and softening effect. Our Government is for the time being beset with so many cares of a more sordid character that the irretrievable damage in prospect may be eommitteed before its eyes are opened to the danger that threatens. It would therefore seem full time that some concerted action was taken to awaken it to the urgent need for early intervention to prevent the country and its coming generations from being despoiled of an inheritance of inestimable value that can never be replaced by the hand of man. It was only after long continued agitation and persistent pressure that the good folks of Auckland were successful in having the equally beautiful Waipoua Forest-secured and set aside as a perpetual scenic reserve that now constitutes one of the main attractions for travellers in the northern part of this island. The same means will probably have to be adopted in relation to the bush area under notice, and no time should be lost in setting about it. Our Governor-General, who has set us all so fine an example in the way of preserving worthwhile things, may surely be relied upon to lend to any movement that may be started the weight of his support.