Westland National Parks

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31000, 4 March 1966, Page 12

Westland National Parks

Sir, —The Westland National Park Board bought a house at Fox Glacier for £5lOO. By the time this house is brought up to national park standard the cost will be over £6OOO. A good price for this old property would have been £3500. Why the difference? There are two beautiful new houses at Franz Josef, built for just over £6OOO. Surely this could have been done at the Fox Glacier. As the Fox Glacier is the sub-headquarters of the Westland National Park why is no committee member resident there? I am told most of the committee members live out of the park area itself. What is the park board going to do about the rotten, filthy, rat-infested pit which is on the road leading to the Franz Josef Glacier. It is high time the committee did something about this or else get some new members. — Yours, etc.. PROGRESS.

February 23, 1966. [The secretary of the Westland National Park Board (Mr C. W. Thorpe) says: “It is correct that the house purchased at Fox Glacier by my board cost £5lOO. However, this is not considered exces-

sive when the Government valuation of £4325 is considered. This house was purchased by the board to meet an urgent demand for ranger housing. It was not possible to erect a new dwelling as park board staff were fully engaged in providing facilities for the public. There is a member of the board from Fox Glacier, although at present he is temporarily residing in Hokitika. However, with two board members residing at Franz Josef, local interests are well looked after. As far as the ratinfested pit on the Franz Josef Glacier approach road is concerned, this is not under the jurisdiction of the park board. The matter is being investigated by the controlling authority]