S.I.P.A. Urges More Mt Cook Beds

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31463, 1 September 1967, Page 12

S.I.P.A. Urges More Mt Cook Beds

“It has taken five years to double the accommodation at the Hermitage, and this is only playing with it,” said the deputy chairman of the South Island Publicity Association (Mr E. T. Beaven) at a meeting of the association’s executive council in Christchurch yesterday.

“Mount Cook is urgent in the tourist picture. Sixty per cent of the long-stay tourists coming to New Zealand are asking for the South Island to be on their itineraries, and that means Mount Cook and Queenstown.” There were 5,070,000 acres of national park land in New Zealand. Mr Beaven said. “The National Parks Board have the problem of rezoning and we hope they will rezone areas for tourism. I wouldn’t think we would want more than 1000 acres. “I understand the owners of Glentanner are not prepared to sell the flats as they use them for wintering stock,” said Mr G. R. Burrowes (former president of the Canterbury Progress League). He was referring to the intention of the Parks Board to set up a tourist village on Glentanner flats. If the Government wanted to get the land it micht have to buy the whole station. “I don’t think the Government would worry for five minutes,” said Mr J. Manson (Hanmer Springs). “If they want Glentanner then they’ll take it. The tourists bring more money into Mount Cook than is taken out in wool.”

Fishery Control.—As the control of fresh-water fisheries and wildlife was of vital interest to 5.1.P.A., it was decided that support should be given to the intended approach to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seath) and the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) by the New Zealand Fish and Wild-Life Investigation Movement. Air Links.—The secretary (Mr M. F. Foate reported that he had held discussion with Air New Zealand about increased external services to the South Island. A daily Sydney-Christchurch link had been given first priority, Brisbane-Christchurch second, and Fiji-Christchurch third, but the lack of aircraft had been put forward as the main difficulty. Akaroa Publicity.—“ls publicity for Akaroa being given priority?” asked Mr Burrowes. Mr Beaven said it was considered that S.I.P.A. should await an Invitation from Akaroa before inspecting the problem. Hanmer Springs. “The whole trouble at Hanmer Springs with the baths is that the people who control them (the Health Department) are not interested in them and haven’t the money to spend,” said Mr Manson. “If we keep hammering away at them maybe someone will collapse.”

Invitation To M.P.—Mr A. D. Dick (Nat, Waitaki) will be invited to meet the executive to discuss his proposed South Island Development Council .Bill which has had its first reading in Parliament. Membership.—Mr Beaven reported from the Membership and Finance Committee that the association had 3090 members, not including local bodies. Servicemen’s Leave. 5.1.P.A. agreed to write to the Minister of Defence and Tourism (Mr Thomson) expressing “whole-hearted support” for bringing American servicemen to New Zealand for leave. Anti-Litter Measures.—“l think we should press for much more stringent anti-lit-ter penalties if we expect to achieve anything,” said Mr W. A. Pickford. S.I.P.A. will continue to support suggestions for an anti-Jitter campaign. Co-ordination.—At the suggestion of Dr. G. A. Wall (Blenheim) S.I.P.A. will consider co-ordinating the efforts of all South Island groups interested in promotion. Dr. Wall considered S.I.P.A. was the body best qualified to act in the matter. New Members.—Three new members, Messrs R. Perrier (Qantas), E. Harrop (president of the Canterbury Progress League), and E. H. Williams (secretary of the Canterbury Hotel Association), were elected to the executive.