TRAMPERS’ ACTIONS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 186, 4 May 1933, Page 3

TRAMPERS’ ACTIONS

Criticism Answered by Dr. Sutch “NEEDED HELP URGENTLY” Criticism of the actions of the party of four trampers who were missing in the Tararuas for a fortnight has been answered by a member of the party. Dr. W. B. Sutch, who expresses deep regret at the Inconvenience necessitated by the search. In a statement on behalf of himself and his companions, Messrs. A. H. O'Keefe and 1. Hill and Miss M. Williams, Dr. Sutch says that it was unfortunate that the jocular remark, "We were not lost, was given such prominence. He says that the members of the party were properly equipped for the short trip intended, and he explains why certain departures from tramping rules were An hour after the party had arrived in Mastertou a somewhat lengthy explanation and appreciation from the party of trampers was written out, aud given to a Press representative, who gave assurance that the statement would receive full consideration and space in lhe columns of the daily Press, Dr. Sutch says. This account seemed cither to have been delayed in the post, or to have been so summarily condensed as not to be recognisable as an official statement from the tramping party. “In view of this and because of several inexact, misleading, and even false reports that have appeared in some dailies lately, we should like to make clear our point of view.” says the statement. “The purpose of the tramp was to cross from Te Matawai to the •Holdsworth Hut to see whether it would be possible to make a winter crossing on that particular route. In any other than winter conditions this is not a difficult trip for trained trampers. It has several times been done in a one-day stretch. We took the risk of having to spend one night in the bush, but as we started out between three and four o'clock in the morning, this contingency was rather remote. When the storm struck us about three o’clock iu the afternoon we were within three hours o” Holdsworth. Ability of Trampers. “For such a short trip our equipment was quite full and complete—aneroid, compasses, map, lirst-aid outfits. sleeping-bags, adequate food and clothing. Nor can the capacity of the tramping party to do the trip be questioned. Mr. Hill, the leader, is very well known in local circles for his tramping ability. Miss Williams is one of the best women trampers in New Zealand, as her achievements in Otago. Westland. Whangarei and the Tararuas will show. Her bush sense is uncanny. Mr. O’Keefe is a strong, extremely cautious tramper, who has been iu training all the season. The fact that the party managed to walk out and did not hare to be carried out is sufficient testimony to their physical fitness. “There are two things we. did that were contrary to tramping rules. The first was to sidle round the Tararua Pinnacles instead of going over them: the second was to leave the tops for the bush. The first action was due to the wind velocity being too great to stick to the ridge. In one case one member of the party was lifted bodily by the wind. The only thing to do was to sidle on the lee side. This led to Mr. O’Keefe’s fall. Similarly to leave the tops .was the only thing to do. In the blizzard that was raging for days to work through the bush in the general direction of the main range was preferable to dying on the tops. The question as to whether one should die or break the laws of bushcraft seemed to us to be a discussion in the realms of the metaphysical. “Briefly, our situation was this: We were confined to an area on the east side of the main range between Hector and Crawford. The main range could be considered the base of a triangle, the other two sides being the two rivers Waiohine and Waiohine-lti. both of which were for days raging torrents quite unfordahle. We were therefore trapped, our only hope being to get across the main range to Hector and Otaki. Attempts to Relieve Anxiety. “For six days we attempted to get to the ridge through the sleet and snow, keeping to the hush line, of course, for onr camps. Knowing that search parties would be out, we wanted to make every attempt to relieve anxiety, but when a party has been almost starved for eight or nine days, two are suffering from exposure to cold, nnd another has feet black with frost-bite, one decides that it is perhaps better to follow the river out, especially as one cannot be reasonably located in the bush by a search party. We were very lucky to be able-to cross the Waiohine at this stage, as the river was still high. The last six days were occupied in getting along the cliff faces and through the edges of the bush bordering the river. “It is unfortunate that a jocular remark, ‘We were not lost.’ passed to some members of the Masterton Search Party Committee, should have, been given such prominence and public comment. An argument about tlie connotation of the word -lost’ is of academic interest only. We could place ourselves on the map. With food wo could get out. There was no question of that. The question was not whether we were lost, but whether we needed help, '['here was no doubt of this: we needed it. and needed if urgently. If I here was one thing wo wished for more than fond and a search parly, it was a wireless transmitter to lot jioonle know of onr whereabouts and condition. "When, last Wednesday, we saw a red nosed aeroplane overhead wo had mixed feelings—exhilaration at a concrete sign of help, and regret that lhe

outside world was being put to so much anxiety, trouble, and expense on our account. Gratitude Expressed. "We can never express our gratitude to the New Zealand public for its magnificent response when it was. known that we needed help. There are hundreds of people whom we should like to thank personally: there are many we shall never hear about. First, we mils' thank the Government for its consideration in placing Hie wireless organisation of the Dominion nt lhe disposal of the search party committees, and of the public and private operators and the emergency radio organisations for the untiring efforts in keeping in touch with every detail of news. SEARCHERS RETURN All Out of Tararuas INJURED MEN’S PROGRESS All the Wellington parties who were searching the Tararuas for the missing trampers have now returned, the last arriving here yesterday afternoon. Both Mr. A. 11. O'Keefe, the injured member of the "lost” party, who is receiving trpiitmenl for frost-hire, and Mr. 11. McN'iiught. one of lhe searchers, who is suffering from an injured foot, arc reported to be making good progress in hospital. BASE CAMP DISMANTLED Dominion Special Sekvice. • Masterton, May 3. The camp which was cstablislied at Mitre Flats as a base for trampers Inking part in the recent search for the missing Irampors was dismantled today. amt the party of three, which has been out there since Sunday, returned to Masterion late this afternoon. It is considered that all search parties will be out of the ranges by to-morrow.