SKI CONTEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 118, 22 May 1939, Page 5

SKI CONTEST

CENTENNIAL MEETING

MOUNTAINEERS' PROPOSAL

SUPPORT SOUGHT

I If proposals formulated by the Ski Council of New Zealand are carried through an international mountain sports meeting will be held at Mount Cook during the Centennial year. The council reported to the annual meeting of the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand on Saturday afternoon that invitations had been sent to clubs overseas and general support was required to make the meeting a success. It was considered that such' a meeting would be of great value to the Dominion, as it would make New Zealand's mountain scenery better known.

Presenting the report of the Ski Council, Mr. R. B. Gray (Wellington), who is secretary of the council, said that the number of ski clubs affiliated to the council was fourteen; the same as last year, but the number of members of those clubs had increased considerably.

The council had asked for a portion of the proceeds of the Grand Sports Art Union to be used to make skiing more popular. One of the proposed avenues of expenditure was a Centennial ski meeting at Mount Cook. Overseas ski clubs had been invited to take part and an Australian team would be present. INTERNATIONAL SPORT. Skiing was one of the most international sports in the world, Mr. G. G. Lockwood (Christchurch) said. Skiing had become a matter of national prestige and every year international contests were arranged. The Ski Council, with an income of about £20, was going to embark on a meeting of that kind and it was no small job. The council could do nothing without the co-operation of the Tourist Department and the Government. Such a meeting would do an enormous amount of good for New Zealand because it would advertise the Dominion's mountain attractions. j The Alpine Club had constituted a ski-mountaineering section to bridge the gap between the skiers and the mountaineers, and that was of great importance. It had been found that the majority of those who took part in skiing and tramping believed they could not join the Alpine Club. That was quite wrong as membership was open to them all. The Alpine Club was anxious and willing to take into its ranks all who were interested in the mountains. Ski-mountaineering courses would be arranged and they would be open to both novices and expert skiers. The object of the section was to provide material benefits for members and not to work only for those who had some experience. ' Mr. F. W. Vosseler (Wellington) moved that the Alpine Club should be congratulated on having formed a skimountaineering section, and that the federation should do all in its power to support the Centennial programme of the Ski Council.

Mr. R. Syme, seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. When interviewed later, Mr. Gray said skiing clubs all over the world were being invited to attend the Centennial meeting, and the Ski Council hoped to persuade the Tourist Department and the Railways Department to give some concessions to the visitors. The meeting would be held at Mount Cook, but competitors would also visit the Chateau Tongariro at least. The meeting would be of great value to New Zealand and should be supported by all who were interested in bringing the Dominion's mountain attractions before the mountaineers of other countries.