MOUNTAIN CLUBS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 7

MOUNTAIN CLUBS

FEDERATION UNDER WA\j

ACTIVITIES IN VIEW,

Recommendations which, if carried ■ into effect, will benefit tramping clubs and similar organisations very considerably were made at the first general meeting of the Federated Mountain. Clubs- of New^ Zealand on Saturday. There were present Messrs. F. W. Vosseler (Mount Egmont Alpine Club), S. A. Wiren (Christchurch Skiing Club), W. S. Eennie (Buapeliu Skiing Club), Or. B. Wilson (Levin-Waiopehu Tramping Club), E. C. Murie (Buapehu Skiing Club), J. A. Singleton (Massey; Agricultural College Tramping Club), J. S. Yeates' (Manawatu Tramping Club), L. O. Hooker, E. Syme, W. G. Mace (Mount Egmont Alpine Club),. Professor E. Boyd-Wilson (Victoria. University College Tramping Club), and _ Mr. A. P. Harper (New Zealand Alpine Club), who attended by invitation. The following officers wore elected:—< President, Mr. Vosseler; vice-presidents, Messrs. E. C. A. Ferrier (Christchurch), K. M. Griffin (Auckland), L. 0. Hooker;; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. G. Mace; committee, Messrs. Syme,'J.H. Silson (Manawatu), 'Eennie, G. G.. Lockwood (Christchureh), E. Waters (Auckland), N. Thomson (Levin-Waio-pehu), Singleton, Wiren, Professor Boyd-Wilson. The appointment of a fourth vice-president was held over. The constitution was adopted, and mi view of the fact that only one club had expressed itself against the proposal, the following additional rule, sponsored by Mr. Hooker, was approved:-r-"That; no person with vested interests in any; of the tourist resorts of the Dominion shall be eligible for membership on tha committee or to hold office in the federation." Mr. Hooker expressed appreciation ofj the valuable assistance given by Mr< Harper in connection with the formation of the federation^ He moved; and it was decided, that the federation's thanks be placed on record and that Mr. Harper be sent a letter to the same effect. ' . mm LINK WITH ALPINE CLUB. Mr. Harper, in reply, said that ha had been very keen to see the federa-. tion come into being. ■: He hoped to see a link established between the fed* eration and the New Zealand Ailpmaj Club, so that when any matter affecting the sport generally was being discussed the two bodies might be able: to join forces. The object behind tha formation of the federation was 'tha.tl when any rejuest was made to the Government tue combined weight of the two bodies could be exerted. On. several occasions the Alpine Club had gone to the Government and had the assistance of the tramping clubs beea available the requests might have been, granted more' quickly. ...-'. , The federation realised the necessity, for working in harmony with the Alpine Club, said Mr. Vossaler. Just how. the link to which Mr. Harper had referred to could be established was a. matter for discussion at a later stage. RECORD OF ALL HUTS. Mr. Hooker said he considered that one of the first things the federation should do was to obtain a complete record of all the huts in the Dominion, showing the plans, accommodation, cost, of erection,' and the position of the. tenure. In certain parts of the Dominion the rights of the public to use! the huts had.been filched from them. He know that members of his own clubhad been 'charged a ridiculous rental for the use of a memorial. hut which, had been put up by public subscription. Another matter was that' before the federation was actually formed ,he and Mr Eennie represented it at the conference called by the Government _ to. consider the licensing of, guides. That was a matter in which the combined forces of the Alpine Club and the; federation would bring about the desired Vlilt.. /They all knew the interests tney had to fight. Mr. Hookey advocated the establishment of a bulle* tin, even if it were only a quarterly} publication, and the obtaining of proper records from all the1 associated clubs. If would also be very useful* he suggested, for the federation to have records of all the essential.climb* done by individual members. Proper libraries should also be established. ' ,'. . ; Mr. Harper said that the hut question was one that had been in his mind for a long ty-e. By the end of next month tney would have a hut on. the Tasman Glacier for trampors at a rental sufficient to keep it in repair. He ag£?ed 'that the position in regard to the King Memorial Hut and others was ridiculous, and hoped that the federaUoa and the Alpine Club would combine to; alter matters. So far as the licensing of guides was concerned, the Alpine. Club intended to have a meeting before the ordinary session of Parliament to draw up the proposed legislation. The Government was with if in its proposals and the guides themselves were unanimously in favour ot ; them. The Alpine Club was taking steps to compile a register of guides,; and it hoped to develops scheme whereby anyone, wanting a guide could applJl to the club. The question 6£ records was very important, but the assistance^ of all the clubs would be needed ta( make it successful. The Alpine CMh, would probably ask for support m ge* ting Government .Departments to W more careful with their records. .. DUTY ON EQUIPMENT. A recommendation that efforts b* made to have the duty on skis and othe* mountain equipment reduced wass mad# by Mr". Wiren. "...'. Mr. Beunie agreed that records. wer«( very necessary, and mentioned the cas4 of a man who, when inquiring about' * track to the West Coast, was told tha* there was no information about. th« route, and tha best thing he could. drf was to go and find out for hiniself, •He added that an Australian ;nioun» taineering journal was seeking infor* mation about the sport in New. Zea« Hooker said he thought it was time the public, realised that many of their national reserves were closed to them. Access could not be obtained to thousands of acres of reserve without permission. Many thousands of acres had been leased with the Chateau at Tongariro National Park. : Mr Harper pointed out that reserves controlled by the Survey Department could not be leased. Some of the Mount Cook reserves, including the Gqdley, Glacier, came under the Tourist. Department. '■ . .... In the opinion of Mr. Syme,' the iederation should urge that clubs should be represented on national park boards* If the list of matters which it was suggested might be dealt with were knowrt to clubs outside the federation: theyj might be induced to join. It was decided to recommend all tha matters referred to by the various speakers to the committee for action* A suggestion by Mr. Eennie that all clubs, whether in the federation or not, should be requested to forward their annunl reports was adopted.