The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1921. SAVING THE REMNANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1921. SAVING THE REMNANTS.

At Mokau on Thursday the returned soldiers settled on that river asked the Minister of Lands to consider the question of abolishing a number of the scenic reserves set apart on various parts of the river, as the reservation of these areas was hampering their operations and settlement generally. No wonder that the Minister expressed surprise at such a request, remarking that the scenery was so beautiful that it would be a shame to destroy it. He, however, said he would place the request before the Scenic Preservation Board. We hope he will convey his disapproval to the board, and that 'the request will be strongly resisted by all concerned. One would have thought there had already been sufficient destruction of the priceless river scenery for which the Mokau is famed. Had previous Administrations done their duty it would have been retained without interfering in the slightest degree with settlement of the neighboring lands. Purely from the utilitarian point of view, it was a mistake to denude the steep banks and the adjacent hills of their covering of bush, which acted as a retainer of the rain water, maintained an even flow in the river, and prevented the soft papa from slipping into the river. But the vandals had their way for the most part, only portions of the river banks being preserved, though strenuous efforts were made by many public spirited and farsighted people in New Plymouth and elsewhere to reserve all that was worth reserving. The result has been rather disastrous, for the very thing that was predicted if indiscriminate cutting and firing of the bush took place soon came about: The logs came down into the river with a good deal of the banks, and the waterway has ever since been blocked to navigation. Those responsible for this despoliation have since been active in requesting Government assistance in having the river cleared, whjlst the people have been robbed of some of the most beautiful river scenery the Dominion possessed. Fortunately some of the best parts were rescued in time and reserved, and it is some of these the settlers desire to have- broken up and opened to settlement. There is no reason whatever why their request should be acceded to, and we hope the Government will be true to their trust and resist any such attempt to take from the people—and posterity—scenic assets that can never be restored