QUARRY OR RESERVE?

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 298, 8 March 1928, Page 11

QUARRY OR RESERVE?

RANGITOTO’S FATE DEBATED REVENUE A FACTOR Is Rangitoto to be quarried or <s it to be maintained in as natural a state as possible for the people to whom it belongs? This was the question that arosf ;.t a meeting of the Rangitoto Island Domain Board last evening. A letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands intimated that he would agree to th€> issue of a licence? to a quarrying company to remove stone from the island near the beacon. He stipulated that no dogs should be allowed on the island and that tie quarrying company should be asked to take steps to see that such would not happen, and that in view of the outcry against the spoiling of the volcanic cones the quarry when worked out should be levelled off. Mr. E. Aldridge said the letter was very satisfactory and was a complete endorsement of all that the board had done at the island. Mr. T. Walsh moved that the minute granting the lease be rescinded. “The board,” he said, “was only trustees for the island which belonged to the people of New Zealand. All quarrying on the island should be prohibited and the cone kept intact.” Tho chairman contended that the board was getting revenue out of the quarrying. The motion was adjourned for a fortnight in order that members might make themselves familiar with the position.