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Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1932, Page 6

SOUNDS AS A NATIONAL PARK 111 the Marlborough Sounds New Zealand possesses one ol the most magnificient marine playgrounds in the world, hut the sounds are without a controlling authority, and therefore continue to be the sport of careless vandals, who cause incalculable harm and damage every year (says the Marlborough Express). The necessity for the proclamation of the whole area as a national Park, under the jurisdiction of a suitable board, lias been clearly indicated for many years, and emphasised by recent happenings which resulted in the destruction by fire of much beautiful bush, and in the disfiguration of wide areas of pictuicsquc scenic reserves. At I lie present time ii few honorary rangers generously keep an eve on. (liiiigs, as lar as they can, hut petrol for launches costs money, and their* time is so valuable, that they are unable to cover tbe ground properly. Under a national park board methods <d' raising I‘mance could he involved, and there is liU-h* doubt that the administration would soon become sell supporting. 11l a ( U Hit ion to inking steps to preserve the bush and the bird life in the sounds, the suggested board could be einpoueio(| pi legislate to prevent, 1 11 r11 n• r barm to the eud-lisliing which is a feature of the locality. Supervision would soon result in a substantial jmprovemea I, and there is no doubt that attention to this matter is much o\eiduo.