CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES OF 

 CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 



The Conference met in the Victoria Rooms, Bristol, on September 4 

 and 9, under the presidency of Prof. Patrick Abercrombie. 



Thirty-nine delegates signed the register, representing forty-four 

 societies. 



Session of September 4. 



NATIONAL PARKS: 

 A RESUME OF THE POSITION. 



By prof. PATRICK ABERCROMBIE, M.A., 



PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE. 



§1. 



So much has been written and spoken on the subject of National Parks 

 both before and since the appointment of the Prime Minister's Committee 

 that it is difficult to say anything new while we are waiting for the Com- 

 mittee's report ; but it may be useful to summarise some of the principal 

 points that have emerged in discussions and writings upon the subject. 

 All the important societies whose work touches the maintenance of our 

 great open spaces have given evidence before the Committee, several of 

 them have issued valuable pamphlets' summarising that evidence, and 

 Dr. Vaughan Cornish has published an admirable brief book devoted chiefly 

 to the scenic aspect of the case. 



It seems to be generally agreed that by using the term ' National ' it 

 is implied that the area should be a large one. A small reservation, 

 however beautiful or famous, while making a most suitable object for 

 preservation under the National Trust, does not fulfil the requirements 

 of a National Park. Several such areas of limited size, which have been 

 brought forward, should probably be ruled out on that score ; and those 

 who are enthusiastic for their preservation should endeavour to secure 

 them either as public open spaces to local authorities or to have them 

 vested under the National Trust. Again, the very large area still 

 remaining in the nature of common lands, though they may enter into and 

 largely form some of the proposed National Parks, do not themselves 

 actually rise to the importance implied in the term. 



Many people dislike the name ' Park ' as suggesting not only something 

 sophisticated but definitely railed off and enclosed ; but the American 

 usage of the word appears to have become fixed, and there is perhaps a 



1 National Trust : C.P.R.E. : C.P.R.W., &c. 



