EXCURSIONS TO PASS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29916, 1 September 1962, Page 13

EXCURSIONS TO PASS

Board Still In Favour

Railway excursions to Arthur's Pass are s ill favoured by the Arthur's Pass National Park Board, which feels that recent reports of misbehaviour reflect on only a small minority of excursionists. The board decided that it would place this view on record. Adverse publicity on excursions to the pass had prompted the board to obtain first-hand evidence of their conduct. The secretary of the board. Mr D. C. Morse, and his wife, travelled on one excursion on July 29. and their observations were reported to the board's meeting. The Railways Department deserved congratulations for continuing the long-standing tradition of Arthur’s Pass excursions in the face of adverse publicity, Mr Morse said. The excursions were still one of the best outings to the countryside available to city people at a moderate cost. "Impressed'’ “On our particular excursion, I was impressed with the number who were in organised parties—lBo out of 264.” Mr Morse said. “I was also imoressed with the tac‘ and skill of the police and railway guards in controlling questionable behaviour.” After hearing Mr Morse's report, and discussion, the board decided to record its views as above. The board's rangers should be able to exercise reasonable supervision of excursionists at the park, it was felt, and the train guards and police were well able to do likewise on the trains. The provision of tearooms and a public shelter at the park were already under wav, it was reported, and with the completion of the museum, reasonable facilities would be available in bad weather.