TONGARIRO PARK AND MILFORD SOUND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 87, 13 April 1927, Page 6

TONGARIRO PARK AND MILFORD SOUND.

Sir Joseph Ward and the loading: men his Southland constituents have. I am glad in hear persuaded (he Government to approve th,. construction of an up-to-date hostel at Milford .Sound But for every New Zealand resident ami cverv overseas tourist who \isits Milford Sound a hundred no to tho Tonga riro National Park. That wonderful region, really the great natural -how-place of New Zealand, in certain respects still stands hostel lers. an ,l there i- no sign ~f the Government moving to provide adequate accommodation for the thou-amls who go there or who would like to pn if a comfortable hotel were erected. Private enterprise, although invited, has not so far rcspondc<l t<> the suggestion to lease a site and put up its own hotel."for the reason that no li(|itor license is obtainable. This is because of the rather ridiculous Bohcpotae prohibition ukase. which has i|uitc outgrown original purpose. I'll fort linn trly the Tongiuim National I'atk Boil i (1, wli it-li has charge oi tin* development of the park, has no definite souice <>f revenue, v. hat it. does receive is utterly inadequate for the construction of a hostel. The Hoard has done nmarkably well so far on exceedingly limited fundreceived as grants from (;o\eminent.0\eminent. Auckland, and Wellington municipal votes and private benefactions. It has provided small cottage camps, made roads, tracks and bridges, mapped th'region, and carried out publicity work. But the demand for accommodation has outrun the supplv of huts and bunks, and there is great need for "p. place ot stay similar to the Mount Cook Hermitage. Indeed, a larger ].lace even than the Hermitage would be filled by the visitors to the rongarii o-Bnapehu country practicallv all the year lound. Here is a wonderland at our doors. accessible with ease by rail and motor, still waiting decent attention from the Government, while remote places like the Mount Cook region and Milford Sound outstrip it in the matter of provision for tourists. It is a national park, but it is also peculiarly Auckland's and Wellin glon's own. It is announced that tenders for the Milford Hotel will bo called shortly for the Milford woik. Auckland and Wellington Members of Parliament, one hopes, will profit bv the vigorous and successtul agitation of Sir Joseph Ward and his Southland henchmen. Mr. W. H. Field. M.P.. is an cnJiusiast for the advancement of our National lark: he is a member of the Board. Kvery M.P. ?i U 4 * *\ * *. n le should ba«-k him ui» in i-i enthusiasm. Milford Sound, lindcniablv needs a go.>d state hostel ; s„,.], , :11 alwa.v, attracts busi m .«. s j.,,, Tongarirn i i-ht at our doors, requires j t i„ infinitely greater degree. \\ ill our M.P. S kindly get busy? iJC.