SKI-LIFT PLAN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29024, 13 October 1959, Page 12

SKI-LIFT PLAN

Australian Here For Talks

Mr Geoffrey Hughes, a director of an Australian ski-lift company and a ski-lift operating organisation, who is in New Zealand for talks with the Tourist Hotels Corporation, said in Christchurch after spending the week-end at Temple Basin, near Arthur’s Pass: “There is tremendous potential there. There is ski-ing for all those prepared to climb the mountain, but w’hen they get there they are tired out.”

Mr Hughes said that with good access two or three resorts could be developed that would attract a great number of tourists. New Zealand tourist posters said there was ski-ing here from June to September, but in fact there was ski-ing from June to Christmas in some parts, Mr Hughes added. Mr Hughes is interested in proposals to build a £221,850 gondola ski-lift system near the Hermitage, Mount Cook. In New Zealand he is acting for Gerhard Muller, of Switzerland, whose organisation designed and built the chairlifts and Tbar at Mount Ruapehu. He said he was going to the Hermitage to “take a look” at Mount Wakefield and the Sealy 'tange “just out of interest.” “I want to find out about local conditions —there is quite a lot in this thing,” Mr Hughes said. He feels that New Zealand is not making enough of its ski resorts. “It seems the parks boards do not want anyone to make money out of the mountains.” he said. “No-one seems to have the confidence to say: ‘We will take this mountain and really make something of it.’ They have done this in Australia, and ski-ing there is really booming. “If they got hold of an area with good snow conditions in New Zealand and built it up Australians would swamp over here.” he said.