Schools Accused Of Littering Park

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32265, 7 April 1970, Page 12

Schools Accused Of Littering Park

An allegation by a correspondent of “The Press” that tramping parties from Papanui, Burnside and Lincoln high schools left a trail of rubbish in recent tramps through part of the Arthur’s Pass National Park has been denied by the schools. The correspondent, A. C. Eden, wrote on March 31: “The route taken up the Andrews Stream by tramping parties from the Papanui, Bumside, and Lincoln High Schools last weekend was easy to follow. The area forms part of the Arthur’s Pass National Park, where it is an offence to drop litter, yet their trail was scattered with empty cans, cheese packets, chocolate wrappings, etc.

The grounds of these schools are kept in a clean and tidy condition, so one can only assume that the teachers in charge were either ignorant of these laws or else had insufficient control of their parties. “It is an unwritten law of most tramping clubs that while in the hills all rubbish must be either burnt or buried. In the interests of those who follow, perhaps leaders .should be made to familiarise themselves with these laws before they lead parties into our hills.” Mr E. Fancy, the principal of Papanui High School, re plied: “Senior pupils only took part in the walk and were experienced trampers. These parties know what is expected of them in maintaining good standards of tidiness. After each stop some one is allocated the task of checking for rubbish.

“The party was in the charge of two experienced and responsible staff members. The leader of the party walked to the rear of the group and saw nothing to substantiate the complaint of the correspondent. ’ “How does the correspondent associate the school pai> ties with the litter? There were a number of other groups (not supervised) on the same tramp who could easily have been responsible for the litter. "At the end of their tramp the school party spent some time clearing litter (not their own) round the Andrews shelter, an area used by the public for picnics. “I feel that the letter is noj fair comment. The correspond ent appears to be making the schools take the blame without producing proof, and it is likely that others were responsible. Tramping parties of Papanui High School are well supervised by competent staff and over the years I have had no complaints of any kind.’ Mr D. C. Billing, the teacher in charge of the Burnside High School’s Tramping Club, said: "The parties named by the correspondent were not the only parties in the Andrews Stream area during Eastei week-end.

"The Burnside party did not travel down the Andrews until the Sunday, having crossed into the Poulter river valley via the Binser Saddle. The Burnside staff followed their usual custom of inspectI > ■ ca-mn sites and lunch sites before their party moved on. The staff and club

Icommittee are willing to meet A. C. Eden at any time to discuss the complaint, and invite A. C. Eden to join them on any of their trips if he Or she wishes to observe the conduct of their parties.” Mr R. B. Strange, the principal of Lincoln High School, said: “The experienced staff in control of the small party from this school, and I, cannot but agree with the comments about litter made by your correspondent However, to lay the blame on one or all three well-supervised school parties for the rubbish left in the area (our school party commented on this as they went through) when they were numerically only a minority of the trampers present would seem to me to be rather an injustice.”