CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES. 



447 



There is much to be said for this optimistic view, which would not then 

 contemplate any drain upon the national exchequer. 



§8. 



Two further essentials of the scheme for providing National Parks are 

 to be noted : firstly, the whole surroundings and setting of the area, 

 however large, must be under the control of regional planning schemes. 

 The approaches to nationally safeguarded property are frequently made 

 the object of disgraceful speculation and the defacement of advertisements 

 and litter ; on a small scale the proposed amendment of the Ancient 

 Monument Act is intended to protect the setting as well as the object 

 itself. Similarly, the setting of the park — its approaches and the settle- 

 ments upon its periphery — must be properly planned and safeguarded. 



And this solicitude for the setting naturally leads to the final conclusion 

 that, rightly considered, the provision of National Parks is merely one 

 aspect of National Planning. It is quite true that many aspects of national 

 existence are being planned on a national scale : roads and rail transport, 

 electric power, afiorestation, water supply (or if not yet, this soon will be). 

 But these different aspects of the national plan are not yet considered 

 in conjunction, nor are they adequately related to a national scheme of 

 industrialism. Thus, we find attempts made to drive a through trunk 

 route across a mountain region, without considering the damage it will 

 do to it as a National Park. Ease of communication, minimising distances, 

 has so reduced the apparent size of the country that a plan is now essential. 

 And as playgrounds are to the towns so are National Parks to England, 

 Scotland and Wales. 



A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Prof. Abercrombie for his 

 valued address. 



In the discussion following the Presidential Address Mr. J. A. Leckie, representing 

 the Cannock Chase National Park Committee, read a paper dealing at length with 

 the claim of Cannock Chase as a National Park. 



Dr. Vaughan Cornish read a communication proposing the Roman Wall 

 (Northumberland) as a National Park for Central Britain, in which he gave details 

 of an area of approximately one hundred square miles in extent, embracing the 

 Tynedale and Hexhamshire moors in Northumberland with the Roman Wall as the 

 centre, and bounded on the east bj' the North Tyne River from Wark to the junction 

 of the South Tvne, which, with its tributary the Tipalt Burn and some two and a half 

 miles of road, forms the southern boundary, via Gap Shields as far as Gilsland. Thence 

 the river Irthing forms the western boundary as far as Lampert, while the northern 

 is bounded by the Wark Burn. Dr. Cornish referred especiallj' to the history and 

 amenities of the area and to its central position, and concluded that the proposed park 

 would be accessible from all parts of Great Britain. 



Dr. G. F. Herbert Smith, representing the Geological Society, also spoke. 



Arising out of the President's Address and the discussion which followed, the 

 following resolutions were approved and adopted : — 



1. 'That the Council of the British A.ssociation be asked to repre.sent to His 

 Majesty's Government the need for the establishment of Nature Reserves in 

 any project for the creation of National Parks. 



2. ' That the Council be asked to appoint a Committee to take cognisance of 

 proposals relating to National Parks by the (lovcrnment and other authorities 

 and bodies concerned, and to advise the Council as to action if desirable.' 



