More Funds For National Parks Urged

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31831, 8 November 1968, Page 20

More Funds For National Parks Urged

(N Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 7. “T h e Government has a duty to look more realistically into the need for an increased grant for the development of National Parks,” the president of the Federated Mountain Clubs (Dr F. E. Gallas), of Nelson, said today.

He said that for many years the Federated Mountain Clubs had expressed concern at the amount of finance available to National Parks. Interest by the public, especially those, in the family group, was increasing each year, but the gap between the

finance needed for administration and maintenance (increased by the stimulus of increased public interest) and the money available had become critical. Dr Gallas said that as early as 1938, when the federation formulated its policy on national parks and pressed for legislation—which was finally passed in 1952—0ne of its aims was the establishment of a national authority to supervise the allocation of finance for the upkeep and development of parks. Dr Gallas said that when the national authority came into being there were four parks in existence (Tongariro, Egmont, Arthur’s Pass, and Abel Tasman) but within the next four years a further four parks (Fiordland, Mount Cook, Urewera, and Nelson Lakes) had been declared. Since then two more (Mount Aspiring and Westland) have been added to make a total area of some 4.75 m acres of land controlled by the national parks system.

“Practically all finance for land acquisition, administration and maintenance is provided by the Government from the vote of the Lands and Survey Department. “The share of the total vote ($25,000 in the first year) to each park over the last 15 years has barely doubled, and this amount has to cover such expenses as ranger salaries, housing, and transport.

“It ■ becomes obvious that there is very little available to meet new capital improvements,” said Dr Gallas. “A subsidy scheme introduced in 1957 provides additional revenue on a two to one basis of the Government matching donations to park boards.

“Although donations are increasing each year, it is still felt that the subsidy comes from the Treasury in such a way that it reflects adversely on the national parks grant from the Lands and Survey vote.

“It also acts in such a way that those park boards which

can readily increase their amount in donations are able to forge ahead with what little development they can at the expense of the less fortunate boards in the more remote areas.”

Dr Gallas said the 95 affiliated clubs had offered their services voluntarily in the past and would continue to do so to help in any way they could.

The federation proposed to examine further various forms of user-pay principles which could provide additional finance. It also believed that more public awareness of the subsidy scheme, based on donations, would help, provided it was assured that money for subsidies did not adversely affect the grant to the Lands and Survey Department, thus unintentionally offsetting and reducing the total grant.