ACCESS TO THE MOUNTAINS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20566, 7 June 1932, Page 9

ACCESS TO THE MOUNTAINS.

LANDOWNERS AND I i CLIMBERS. J _____ i I SUGGESTED LEGISLATION, j i POSITION IN CANTERBURY, j The suggested legislation designed to secure access to scenic and mountain resorts not publicly owned in New Zealand is not viewed in an entirely favourable light by some Christchureh mountaineers of experience, who have expressed decided objections to the broad principles of tho scheme. The initial suggestions for some legislation similar to tho English Eights of Way Bill and the Aceess to Mountains Bill were made by tho New Zealand Tourist League, who recently placed the position before tho Minister for Lands (the Hon. E. A. Hansom), who promised that the matter would be investigated, with a view to having legislation introduced if necessary. The League, in a letter to the Minister, stated that, while there might not appear to b©»much need for legislation to protect public interests while tho population of New Zealand was so small, tho day might come when campers, trampers, and tourists might be pushed further from the towns to what were now unfrequented areas. This might concern the South fsland more than the northern half of the Dominion, aa there wore numerous sheep stations abutting on the alpine regions where, at the present time, visitors were so few that no difficulty was raised about their entrance over private property. Without infringing on public rights, it should be possiblo to devise 1 something on the lines of the proposed English measures to secure access to the scenic and tourist resorts and features : of interest not publicly owned, the letter added. The Alpine Sports Club and the Otago Expansion League have also taken an interest in the matter, which is considered to concern closely trampers and mountaineers.

English Legislation. The Eights of Way Bill introduced in England seeks to have a right-of-way made permanent if it has been in use for 20 years, while the second measure, the Access to Mountains Bill, provides that no owner or occupier of uncultivated mountain or moorland shall exclude any person from walking or being on such land providing that he or she is there for purposes of recreation or scientific or artistic study. There are certain provisions regarding damage to property, and the pursuit of game.

Mountaineers' Opinions. From several mountaineers who were asked yesterday to comment on the proposals, it was gathered that although there had been instances of mountaineering country having been closed to climbers by run-holders because of possible interference with sheep, there was actually no immediate need for legislation which would compel settlers to allow climbers through. A representative of the major climbing organisation in Canterbury (the Canterbury Mountaineering Club) stated that he was definitely against allowing free access to the ranges to indiscriminate parties. He thought that much opposition would be forthcoming to such a Bill as that suggested. He contended that as far as mountaineers in Canterbury were concerned they had free access to. mountain regions up the river gorges. • Bill for Genuine Climbers. Definito views on the question were put forward by Mr Roy Twyneham, president of the Canterbury Ski Club, and a mountaineer of considerable experience. "If the Bill were designed to secure free access to places which are nothing but pleasure resorts, to which people go in parties for 'constitutionals,' I think that it certainly should not be allowed to go through," said Mr Twyneham, "but if it aims at getting proper access for genuine mountaineers into real mountain country, I am certainly in favour of its being put through." Taking the case of Mt. Herbert, Mr Twyneham pointed out that it was not really a mountain, but a pleasure resort, privately owned, whero farmers would bo in order in stopping people from climbing at a season of the year when interferencb would be dangerous to sheep. "One knows that the people who go to the high mountains' are not of the type who would do damage to any man's property. I have found that instead of being adverse to us, the farmer has givon every assistance. The Bill will be necessary to ensure access only over a few properties whero objections are raised without any authority or warranty. "In any case most mountains arc accessible through land not used for grazing, but even over the high sheep country there would be very little disturbance," concluded Mr Twyneham.

I Legislation Unnecessary. | "There is no necessity for such a I Bill here," said Mr C. J. Thornton (sec- ! retary to the Canterbury Mountaineer- | ing Club) when ho was approached. ! '' The point is that access can be gained i to most of the mountain areas by means j of the rivers, which run from the gorges. i No one can stop a climber in the river- | bed, and onco above the stations one i can branch off on to the Crown lauds 1 which stretch to the top of the ranges. ■ Certainly a stationowner is entitled to ; stop people trespassing, and there was 1 an instance recently where parties invaded privato land and started shoot- . ing and causing damage. The sheep were ! interfered with, and the farmer closed \ his land to everyone. "I am certainly against allowing free '■■ access to tho ranges," stated Mr Thorn- ; ton, "and there is no question that if ! the Bill is brought down it will meet ! with much opposition. Wo havo always | made a point of approaching landowners | before a climb, and securing permission. !As far as the Mountaineering Club is | concerned the proposed legislation has ! not our sympathy. Unless there were j very strict clauses governing the posi- ] tion it would mean that private pro- | perty could be thrown open to anybody. | who liked to go over it." | Interference with Sheep. 1 Tho prr-'uiiMii of the New Zealand Alpine Club v.Mr <-■'• £• Mannerhig), .■ i pioneer Now Zealand alpinist, woulci i»6t Jfiv« Ms views on. the Bftftasait&r p?

otherwise for legislation such as tkat suggested until be had heard the fell proposals. He had heard, however, that some runholders in Canterbury hai found it necessary to tackle whose activities interfered with sheep during lambing. At the present time. however, the complaints were isolated.' and there was no difficulty in obtaining access for the genuine mountaineer. There were certain rules and. regulations which had to be observed by efiaabers going through private property vp to the mountains. Only a few run&otfers had had to take a definite stand against them. \ Mr Mannering pointed out that it would be unnecessary to legislate im access to New Zealand mountains, widen were in the main, vested in the Crown. many as reserves. The question of securing rights-of-way was the only matter in the proposed legislation whieii could concern genuine climbers. Sheep Cross Passes. "It is only in the narrow valleys such as those at the heads of the Bakaia, the Bangitata, and the GotDey. that sheep are disturbed at all by &e activities of climbers,'' said Mr Mannering. "There the sheep have been known to be driven over the ranges through passes in the narrow raOeya. The Bakaia is greatly favoured by climbers, but the Godley and the Baagitata are not fi .aently visited. However, in no case has there ever been any great disturbance of stock. It has been found to be more prevalent in the narrow Cameron valley, leading to the Arrowsmith Range. A Guide's Opinion. Mr A. Brustad, a well known Reraatage guide, who is at present maaa£ing the winter sports department of A City store, stated that he thought tht idea perfectly sound, if the propose! legislation meant opening up mountain? for genuine climbers and ensuring then permanent access. It had never bees his experience to be held up by a runholder's objections, but ho knew of very fine climbing country in the Tekapo dir trict, access to which had been refused owing to a settler's concern for his sheep. "In this area there are several «n----climbed peaks. The pass was first crossed by a party I led in 1931, access being from the Cass Valley inte the Leibig range. From there the route went to the Ball Hut, and the region offered several peaks of over SOOQ feet in height, including Mt. Button, Mt. Ronald Adair, Mt. Conrad, and ilt. Olaf. Now this country is closed, and if amicable arrangements could be made with the landowner, ensuring thv safety, of his stock, legislation to brinjr about its reopening and the reopening of similar country would be valuable.''