ACTS OF VANDALISM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 October 1942, Page 5

ACTS OF VANDALISM

DAMAGE AT MT. HOLDSWORTH ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SOLDIERS MINISTER TO BE WRITTEN TO. (“Times-Age” Special.) At the monthly meeting of the executive committee of the Wairarapa Automobile Association it was reported by the caretaker of the Mount Holdsworth camping ground that soldiers had carried out acts of vandalism. Totara stakes protecting newly planted trees had been used for firewood, while the netting protections had in some cases been tossed into the river. Several saplings some twenty feet 1 in height had been chopped down, and the wire of one fence broken. The gates had continuously been left open and sheep and cattle had also damaged young trees. Messrs Robinson and Son, nurserymen, of Masterton, reported that according to instructions from the association they had proceeded to the camping ground with twenty-five new trees to plant. . They had found the conditions ruling so bad, and the damage done by the soldiers so great that they had brought the trees back. It would have been a pure waste of time and money to have planted them. Mr Roydhouse reported that the caretaker had waited upon him in Carterton and reported the damage. He had immediately telephoned to the Commanding Officer, Majoi- Lynch, who had promised to look into the matter. He had heard nothing from him.

It was resolved that the Minister be written to giving details of the damage done and asking that some control be exercised so that the property of the association should be safeguarded from wilful damage. The caretaker, Mr Harris, handed in his resignation. The soldiers, he said, would not take any notice of him. The resignation was accepted, and No. 1 Patrol was instructed to pay regular monthly visits to the grounds. It was also reported that some signposts on the Gladstone road had been removed from their locations and placed in position in a military camp. It was resolved to pursue this matter further.