New Hotel Wing At Franz Josef: Glacier Funicular

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 May 1949, Page 2

New Hotel Wing At Franz Josef: Glacier Funicular

Plans to bring the hostel at Franz Josef Glacier up to a luxury standard, and to provide a funicular railway to transport less active people to the top of the glacier were described, by the general manager of the Tourist Department, Mr L. J. Schmitt, addressing the half-yearly meeting of the Westland Progress League at Hokitika last evening. The immediate part of the programme, he said, was the construction of a new, modern wing to the hotel to replace the annexe which was destroyed by fire two years ago . Plans for this 40-bed extension have been completed and tenders for its construction are to be called within a few weeks, stated Mr Schmitt. A Major Difficulty Referring to New Zealand’s tourist trade Mr Schmitt said that a major difficulty was that the Dominion had so many beautiful places that the department could not get visitors to all of them. “We get them to see the best they can in the time they have and with what money they have,” he said. “I can now tell you that considerable progress is being made in the Franz Josef area,” said Mr Schmitt, adding that the labour and material difficulties in the area were frightful.” The hostel building was being repaired to bring it up to standard —it was nothing like the standard of -other tourist hotels at present—but it was going to be brought up to a standard right in line with the best. “The new wing is going to provide the very best accommodation we can think of,” he said, adding that the cost would be very high but the expenditure was warranted.

“Other work planned is the building of a funicular railway at the Franz Josef,” he went on. “This aerial tramway will be elaborate and will take eight to 10 people at a time from the foot of the glacier to the top. Elderly people, therefore, will be able to enjoy the mountains the same as the younger folk.”

Fire Alarm System Mr Schmitt stated that a very good fire alarm system had now been provided at the glacier hostel, while fire escapes were being provided. The lounge was being improved and already floor coverings, including carpets, had been obtained to increase comfort. These would not be laid, however, until the building had been brought right up to date. The tourist industry in New Zealand would become one of the greatest he stated, and though satisfactory transport arrangements had been made, accommodation was not up to standard or adequate to meet the demands. When this defect had been remedied, he suggested that the tourist trade would become New Zealand’s fourth “export” trade behind butter, meat and wool.