ACCIDENTS IN MOUNTAINS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27665, 23 May 1955, Page 12

ACCIDENTS IN MOUNTAINS

CONCERN EXPRESSED BY FEDERATION 13 DEATHS LAST YEAR "The executive is most concerned at the increase in the number of deaths over the last few years,” said the report of the president (Mr A. H. Hines) and the secretary (Mr R. C. Jefferys) to the annual meeting of the Federation of Mountain Clubs of New Zealand in Christchurch >on Saturday. Thirteen deaths in mountain occurred last year. “Many of these accidents are avoidable, and more strenuous efforts must be made to ensure that climbing and tramping parties are well led and that they do not go beyond their capabilities,” they said. “It is feared that this may have been a factor in some of the recent deaths.” Instruction courses by clubs were being encouraged, said the statement. The use of safety films, which would soon be released, and the continuance of the safety in the mountains campaign shohld help to reduce the number of these avoidable accidents. Of the 13 deaths only six were of members of affiliated clubs. c Reporting for the federation’s accident sub-committee Dr. A. Rodda said that in the 1953-54 season there had been seven accidents and 13 deaths. That considerable loss had been largely caused by one accident, in which there had been six deaths. In 1954-55 there had been nine accidents with 13 deaths. These small figures indicated that the number of fatal accidents was increasing. “It is something that we must face,” he said. “In the past accidents have been so few® that we have not adopted a very realistic attitude. We must adopt a more realistic attitude. There would seem to be a tendency ii\ some cases for there to be some competition, and also in some cases for there to be a tendency for parties to climb beyond their capabilities. These factors will unfortunately increase.” A member of the Safety in the Mountains Campaign Committee. Mr L. D. Bridge said that the achievement of the campaign committee had been considerable. Much work had been done by local committees,- and this should continued. The federation had expressed the intention of forming a sub-committee to see that the material that had been prepared at some cost and effort was used wisely. Mr R. Syme, the federation’s representative on the National Parks Authority, said that after the serious accident of two years ago on Mount Egmont a system of log books had been established. If these were faithfully filled in, he said, it would greatly help in keeping track of parties, particularly ones that were overdue. He suggested that this system might also be used in The Hermitage area.