YOUTH TAKES TO TRAMPING

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 128, 24 February 1938, Page 5

YOUTH TAKES TO TRAMPING

Hostels Which Encourage Walking In The Old World Have Become Established In The -New

EW Zealand is a tramper's paradise, and with the new leisure more and more people are taking up this recreative way of seeing ;their country. The Youth Hostels Association offers not only a joyous comradeship of the open to those who join its friendly ranks, but it is a boon to those who like to live simply and cheaply but who prefer not to have to carry their homes on their backs. The movement in England has grown rapidly since it was introduced from Germany seven years ago, and its counterpart in New Zealand has now become firmly established.

TT has become established, however, only in the South Island. Here most of the important tramping clubs are affiliated with the association, and the hostels have attracted many people wbo in the past did their travelling in a more orthodox and less interesting and healthy manner. The: objects of the Youth Hostel Association in New Zealand are largely based upon those of the Y.H.A. overseas. It aims at helping all, but especially young people, to a greater knowledge, care and love of their land; to promote good fellowship between trampers of all classes. Like the overseas hostels, the charges and conditions of accommodation are the same. For. a shilling a night one may obtain a roof over one’s head, a bed, and blankets. Trampers must, however, provide their own linen, sleeping bag or sheets. Meals can be obtained at hostels, but trampers are not encouraged to stay for more than one night, and as an appreciation for hospitality many give hostel owners a hand at cleaning up or with the dishes at night. All this leads to an informal spirit of good fellowship which is so desirable to-day.' The hostels have increased to a very encouraging extent, any many people have explored some of the most interesting parts of the' country with their aid. There is a chain of hostels on the Banks Peninsular, and a chain on the West Coast. Handbooks are issued by the association containing reports and maps, and they also contain practical as well as interesting literature. ■ • . Forty members of the association went overseas last year representing New Zealand trampers.

Their adventuring was not only fruitful for the knowledge they gleaned, but they invited those they met to the New Zealand hostels. This is where the international aspect of the movement becomes evident. Youth hostels have probably epntributed more within recent years toward international understanding and, therefore, peace, than any other movement of its kind. Thousands of foreigners go to Great Britain each year, and not only meet but come to understand the English through the hosetls where they stay. Although in 1931 the Youth Hostels’ Association of Great Britain had only 40 hostels, to-day there are more than 280, and 500,000 people used the hostels last year. British membership totals 60,000 people, whose ages vary from 10 years to 50, but most of them are between 18 and 30. Most Western European countries now have youth hostels, with the exception of Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Each nation’s membership cards are interchangeable. If you join in England, you can use th ehostels in any country. America has recently come into line.

Only cyclists and walkers may use the hostels, and cycling is very popular. On the Continent the British member finds everything to help him make his stay in the hostels enjoyable and easy. Two hundred thousand foreign hikers spent a night at youth hostels in Germany last year, and among these British visitors predominated. Germany, the mother country of the movement, has, during the past four years, established 399 new youth hostels with a total of 19,992 beds. ' The total number of visitors who passed the night in German youth hostels was 7,500,000. A sum of £1,166,666 was set aside for the maintenance of German youth hostels during 1937.

(")F all the stunts that man ean do, From flying, down to walking. The exercise that beats them all Is just plain honest walking. —Henry Thacker, in the handbook of the Youth Hostels Association of New Zealand.