BEAUTY SPOTS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 402, 8 April 1937, Page 3

BEAUTY SPOTS.

DOMINION’S SCENERY. Lord Galway’s Interest. A decision to recommendl the Government to appoint an interim committee to consider the constitution ot a national organisation for the conservation of native vegetation and for amenity tree planting was reached at the national conference held in Wellington to consider the future of the Dominion’s scenery. The Governor General, Lord Galway, who presided, said that main problems 'involved in s cenery preservation might be divided under the following Heads: (a) Preservation of the existing native bush. (b) Replanting of native bush in areas Where the forest had been destroyed by fire. (c) Planting of roadside trees. (d) Ehcduragihg local bodies and private individuals to plant belts of trees and suitable .shrubs and trees so that they might be in keeping with a scheme of beautification. (e) Ensuring that trees, once planned, were properly cared for until they were firmly established. (f) Prdoau'tloris against fire. (g Taking steps' to ensure that the ravages of deer in the native forest's were properly checked. Work In Old Country. His Excellency said that fn the Old Country the Roads Beautifying Association ot England existed Co further the planting arid beautifying of non' roads; and for that purpose the leading* experts of Kew, the Rhyal Horticultural Society, the Government' Forestry Department, and many others had form'd theniselvtes. 1 into the voluntary central body of the association, &nd gave their services in inspecting mile by mile. “In the Old' Country,” he continued, "we have an old English saying which also doubtless came into being is the result of the experience of other days. It is, ‘Remember thati tor every tree you cut down, you shall plant six new ones.’ Most ot you know already how Arbor Day tame into being, and how the lesson Which it taught spread to all the older countries of the world. It now becomes the duty of the Government and the people of New Zealand th endeavour to apply, in our own conn try, the policy which has proved successful in others in the matter of tree planting. "This matter of planting the roadsides and beautifying the landscape ,ifj a national one--in which every section of the community is vitally interested —and I think we are all agreed that it is in our very be.’.! interests to restore as far as possible the one-time forest beauty of the country by preserving the existing native , trees and by replanting others when the opportunity offers. I know that in many districts in New Zealand weather conditions are against .he successful planting of certain native tre’es. “In some of these districts. however, the trees of the Old World—the oak, the beech, the elm, and the Spanish and horse chestnuts—would improve the home and the park, the town and the country, and in a very few years be a sight! to gladden the eye; but it is essential that the climate of a district ar. well as the toil shall be taken into account when selecting trees for planting.” Endless Scope. During the two years he had been in the. Dominion he had travelled over the roads in most parts if the country, and fo’.ind that theie was ends less scope for giving effect to schemes of replanting the landscape beautifying. In cases in which road straightening had removed the bends of the road, the unused he nds might be made use of for the planting Of clumps of trees .and shtubs, and special attention fnight be given to the selection of the shrubs for such spots. For instance,', the silver tree and the schumack were two whose foliage effect in the autumn was really brilliant. Owners of properties might be invited to assist the scheme ijy the planting of hedges of flowering shrubs on the roadside. “Another suggestion which 1 have made previously, and which I should like to renew now,” said his Excellency, “is this: The New Zeaiaid centenary—now but three years away—seems to present a splendid opportunity for some of New Zealand’s leading citizens, as well as for the Government and local authorities, to point the way oy ‘earmarking’ certain plots of land—of no great: commercial value and' for preference alongside the main highways-—and planting them out in belts of trees.” His Excellency appealed th chose owning such areas of land to make them available to the local au horitiee for that purpose.