TONGARIRO PARK

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 76, 31 March 1931, Page 11

TONGARIRO PARK

BOARD'S POSITION

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

In an interview with a "Post" 'representative to-day, the chairman of the Tongariro National Park Board (Mr. J. B. Thompson, Undcr-Secretary for Lands) referred to the letter signed, "Sinex" appearing in Monday's issue of the "Post." The letter, said Mr. Thompson, comprises chiefly a mixed attack on the administration of the Tongariro Park Tourist Company, Ltd., and the Tongariro National Park Board, and appears to have been written by-a poison who has not a completo knowledgo of the facts. • Briefly, tho position as between the board and the company was that tho board, with tho approval of tho Government' and in accordance with its statutory powers, granted a lease to the company for a term of. 42-years over areas aggregating 148* acres, out of a total area of 150,000 acres comprised in the park. Under the lease the company undertook to erect a hostel and provide other facilities for visitors and tourists to the park, and the terms and conditions embodied in tho lease were given tho utmost consideration by tho board to ensure that the rights of the public were fully protected. Tho principal provisions of the le'aso are on public record, as they have been published in the annual reports of the board as_ presented to Parliament,' and there is no necessity to elaborate them here. "To assist the company in carrying out its programme, authority was given by special legislation to enable the board to borrow from the Public Trustee tho sum of £60,000, and to lend that sum to the company upon -proper security being given by way of mortgage. In addition, the board out of its own funds advanced the sum of £3750 (not' £7000 as stated, by 'Sinex') which waa likewise secured b~y way of mortgage. The Tourist Company -was floated with a capital of £50,----000, or more, and,„ of course, has IOBt a formidable sum. The hostel was commenced in, December, 1928, and'was completed in August, 1929, and it is, I think,- generally admitted that the accommodation provided is second to none in Australasia. In building and conducting a hostel of this description, difficulties with consequent^ extra expenses wero encountered, and this, coupled with the ■ abnormal depression and shrinkage of tourist traffic, imposed a severe handicap upon the Tourist Company'at the start. Tho board, as mortgagee, took over the Chateau on the 20th February, and at tho auction salo of the leasehold and chattels held at Wanganui yesterday bought in at the'reserved price of £46,000 for the leasehold (with Chateau) and £15,000 for the furniture and chattels. It is, of course, quite incorrect to suggest that the board has taken over the liabilities of the company: The Tongariro National Park Board ■ now owns a completo going concern, carrying a capital charge of less than one-half of that carried by tho Tourist Company. "A manager has been appointed, and tho board is continuing the running of the Chateau and the outlying huts. It is the intention of the board to bring into use as early as possible the golf course which has been laid out, and also to provide other facilities such as tennis courts, etc., for the entertainment of visitors who do not wish to climb the mountains. With a return to more normal conditions, I feol confident that the Chateau will be one of tho chief tourist and holiday resorts of the Dominion. Ono would think, on reading 'Sincx's' letter, that the whole park of 350,000 acres had been handed over to private enterprise, and expioitatation to tho detriment of tho public and that trampors and campers were being warned off the premises. ' The park is and has always been open to all sections of tho public to visit and enjoy from tho camper in his tent to the visitors desiring the modern comforts of the Chateau. The park is the property of tho peoplo, and is not for tho enjoyment of one section of the public only, be they campers or tourists." ■ . JT Mr Thompson said that many of the queries put by "Sinox" had been proviously traversed by him, and had appeared in the Press, so he did not intend to again refer to them, but 'it would be just as well to stress tho point that the Tourist Company nevor controlled more than 148$ acres.