N.Z. Alpine Club Annual Meeting

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31678, 14 May 1968, Page 7

N.Z. Alpine Club Annual Meeting

The New Zealand Alpine Club must ensure that no opportunity was lost to raise the technical standard of climbing, said the president (Mr A. R. Craigie) in his report presented at the annual meeting in Christchurch. The club must also encourage « sound and sensible approach to mountaineering at all levels, he said.

“Many members are actively engaged in the work of the National Mountain Safety Council and its sub-commit-tees, at both national and regional levels,” Mr Craigie said. “Much solid practice has also been undertaken by highlevel rescue teams, with the new face-rescue equipment distributed by the Federated Mountain Clubs during the year.” Mr Craigie said five of the club’s sections had conducted instruction courses during the year. In addition, three courses had been undertaken by Australian climbers at Mount Cook. "Instruction was again handled by Alpine Instruction, Ltd, and it is gratifying to note the continuing standard of safe climbing on many peaks in the alps by the large numbers who took part,” he said. In a determined effort to advance the standard of high

climbing, 17 experienced members from all sections took part in a course at Mount Cook during Easter. National Parka Mr Craigie said the club was deeply concerned by the implications of certain recommendations made by the departmental committee which examined the administration of national parks. “These ignore the great contribution made to the national-parks movement by mountain-club members over many years, and seek to deny the right of representation to the very people who possess a profound first-hand knowledge, a wide variety of occupational qualifications, and a deep and abiding interest, free from commercial or selfish motives,” said Mr Craigie. He said that club interest in the preservation and use of national parks extended back almost 40 years. In that time, the club had been concerned with freedom of entry, the extension of boundaries, and the framing of legislation under which the 10 national parks were administered. The interest of club members in national parks was indicated by their membership on the National Park Board’s Authority (four) and on various park boards (16). The club should do everything possible to retain its i right of nomination to the authority and boards, Mr Craigie said. Election Of Officers President, Mr A. R. Craigie (Otago): secretary, Mr B. Hearfield (Canterbury-West-land); treasurer, Mr H. C. Gray (Canterbury-Westland); committee, Messrs M. R. White (Australia), J. L. Leonard and Miss B. Price (Auckland), Messrs F. Newmarch (Taranaki), A. P. Thomson, E. R. Sadd and Mrs M. Davidson (Wellington), i Messrs P. C. Holland (NelsonMarlborough), P. L. Squires, I Dr P. Strang and Mrs N. Cawley (Canterbury-Westland), Messrs T. J. H. Chinn (South (Canterbury), E. L. Glass ((North Otago), and J. D. Henderson (Southland).