Climbers' view of runholders

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33461, 16 February 1974, Page 12

Climbers' view of runholders

An immense fund of good will and mutual respect existed l>etween runholders and members of recognised mountaineering clubs, the president of the Erewhon (Ashburton) branch of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club (Mr P. Bain) said this week.

He was replying to a recen! article in “The Press” in which Mr M. Prouting. of the Mesopotamia station, had asked for the views of mounn clubs on comments which had been made about Hy retired grazing lands "Except for a tew occasions when mustering operations forcel alterations to climbing plans, and one case v'Here permission was refused because of safari hunting in a Rangitata tributary, members have always had read}’ access Bain. “Run holders have often given the use of huts and lent horses for river-crossing •nd hut-building. Club mem-

it;bers for their part have ren. paid the help and interest [of the runholders by asking dm advance for permission to i- i cross station land, caring for st huts, reporting the whereit ’abouts and condition of ■- Jstock. and helping in difficult times such as last winter’s snow-fall “It is to be hoped that rhe ' recent growth of safari hunt-[ „ ing and venison recovery do j . not adversely affect this situ-1 ation rtf the interests of wealthy ’ foreign sportsmen and gour-1 ' mets are to be placed before! »ho«e of New Zealand -noun- i ‘ain»ers. the immense fund, n of eood will and mutual resd nee* built on over the vears g con'd be rapidly eroded,". i-'said Mr Bain. 1