DO WE NEED A NATIONAL TRUST?
Sir,-Mr. Fairburn is to be congratulated on his article "Do We Need a National Trust" (September 3), I think there is.no doubt that we do, or at any rate some organisation -of similar responsibilities and powers. Casting my mind casually over New Zealand it would seem that some of the more obvious monuments have been saved from destruction, but there are small tragedies occurring every day, which are no less tragic because of their smallness. The history of any country is made up as much, if not’ more, by the day to day activities of its citizens, as ‘it is by great national events, and in a way our own early history is one more of individual effort and fortitude than of outstanding national achievements. For this reason many of our "monuments" may, at first sight, appear insignificant, even worthless. Such, for instance, as the little bond store in the heart of Wellington through which passed the first goods for the support of the little settlement which is mow our Capital City. I am sure that anyone with any imagination will, if he stops to think, realise the tremendous value to us of these small reminders of the courage and vision of the people who. gave us our country. I realise the difficulties ahead of sorting out what should or should not be preserved, but as a first step could not a panel be set up to make a survey of the whole country? This panel might consist of an architect, a historian, a geologist, and a botanist-and there may well Ge ‘others. The business of this panel | should be to investigate, record, classify -and advise on all buildings and tracts of land which they think should be preserved. They should also see that the result of their work gets. into the right hands. It is a-very big job, but much of their work will be that of co-ordination as I know that a great deal.of valuable work has already been done by both official -and private organisations. But, whatever is done, let. us have as soon as possible a responsible body to whom we can all go with confidence, for a considered and enlightened opinion on these matters.
NANCY
(Waimai).
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19480924.2.14.1
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 483, 24 September 1948, Page 5
Word count
Tapeke kupu
377DO WE NEED A NATIONAL TRUST? New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 483, 24 September 1948, Page 5
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in