YOUTH HOSTELS IN N.Z. INCREASE IN MEMBERS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27966, 12 May 1956, Page 5

YOUTH HOSTELS IN N.Z.

INCREASE IN MEMBERS

THREE HOSTELS OPENED LAST YEAR

Membership of the Youth Hostels Association of New Zealand is 2060. an increase of 42 per cent, on the previous year’s figure. This is said in the annual report of the association. which will be presented at a meeting of the national council of the association in Wellington today. Canterbury has the largest membership with 876—an increase of 188 on last year—and Wellington and Auckland are next with 491 and 395. Most of the membership is drawn from affiliated organisations, of which there are 21 in Canterbury. The number of these organisations has also increased to 54.

Three new projects are being completed in Canterbury. A building at Birch Hill will be converted and become known as Garry Hostel, a hostel will be built in Montgomery Park, and another completed at Whitecliffs. On August 13. 1955. the largest hostel in New Zealand, at Arthur s Pass, was opened bv the Minister of Railways (Mr J. K. McAlpine). Two other hostels were opened in 1955. one at Motuoapa Bay. Lake Taupo, and the other at Rotorua. Government grants during the year totalled £l7OO. and of this the Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, and Auckland regions received £4OO each. The additional £5OO has been set aside for national development, says the report. Private gifts during the year included one of £lOOO from Mr W. H. Montgomery, of Little River, for the building of a hostel near Hilltop. Hawke’s Bay. Wanganui, and Otago have 100 members, and have been granted, or have applied for, regional status.