EGMONT NATIONAL PARK

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 July 1927, Page 8

EGMONT NATIONAL PARK

CHARGES FOR ADMISSION

11 1 I'JiI.JiGJLIAi’H - olM£>Jl.Ai. XU TILE STAU WELLINGTON, July 14.

Authority is given by pioc.-amanon iCi• tno x\ at-ionai Lark Board to make tne loilowmg ekarge.s tor admission to persons and veiuoles:—For each motor-car, 2s (hi; motor-cycle, is; motor lorry or 'bus carrying loss than twenty passengers, os; motor-lorry or 'bus carrying twenty passengers or more, 10s : tor each person other than ticon-sea taxi-drivers, Is; each nor.se, with or wtt.liout vehicle, is.

COMM 1 1 1 EE MEETING

AT DAWSON FALLS

A meeting or the South and East Committees ol the ttgmont National Park Hoard was held at the Dawson Kalis Hostel yesterday. There were present: Messrs. T. it. Crump (chairman), N. limes, J. .Hickey, W. G. \\ alkiey, C. Gooasoii, R. G. Cook, JJ. C. Lysaglit, A. V. Messana, 1. J. Bridger (South Committee); J. T. Belcher. T. it. Anderson, W. L. Kennedy, A. .Larcom (East Committee). .Messrs. G. A. Carter and 11. G. McDonald, secretaries of the East and South Committees respectively, were also present. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs, A. Gamlin, E. Long and C. J. Belchei Air. Crump regretted the non-at-tendance of members of the West Committee.

Correspondence was received from Mrs. Dorothy E. Latham, Wanganui, expressing thanks for what- had been done by the National Park authorities in connection with the recent fatality. Mr. G. A. Carter, secretary of the East Committee, wrote as follows: “The undermentioned resolution was carried at a meeting of my committee, with an instruction that the South Committee be asked to pass a similar resolution to acquaint Messrs. Dickie and Hawken, members of Parilament for your district, of the fact that an amending Bill will be brought before Parliament this session giving only the New Plymouth Borough Council the right to raise money for road work in the Park area.

“My committee feels that any amending legislation of this nature should give to all constituent bodies represented on the various committees authority to raise moneys in the same way as it is intended to give authority specifically to the New Plymoutn Borough Council. “My committee trusts to the support of your committee in this matter, and for your information I have to advise that the board has been supplied with a copy of the resolution and that’ the board may be asked to have a meeting at an early date to discuss the matter. The following is the resolution : -That the present amending Bill incorporate powers giving to all constituent bodies represented on the East and South Committees' authority to raise loans of such amounts as are approved of by the Minister for the same purpose of developing the Egniont National Park.’ ” The chairman saw no reason to object to the North Committee raising money by tin* means adopted for improvement of the National Park. The New Plymouth Borough Council accepted responsibility in connection with the loan, and if such a step were taken by the South oi; other committee it would be necessary for a local l>ody to undertake the responsibility. He understood that all liability rested on the New Plymouth Borough Council. Mr. Carter emphasised the fact that his committee wished the terms of the Bill to apply to any or all of. the constituent bodies. Air. Walkley wanted to know why the South and East Committees were not approached and given borrowing powers akin to those granted to the North Committee. The chairman explained that all the committees concerned had the power to borrow through the Park Board, but could only offer as security the Park fees. No local committee bad power to finance in any way thatwould impose liability on another committee. On the motion of Air. Walkley. seconded bv Air. Cook, the action of flic East Committee was endorsed. TWO BOARDS SUGGESTED.

Air. Britlger considered that m the interests oi Dawson Falls it was desirable that the National Park Board should be divided imo two separate and independent sections —one to govern the northern and the other to govern the southern interests, the north board to embrace the present North and West Committees and the south board the East and South Committees.

Mr. Cook supported Air. Bridger in his view, while the chairman said that such a proceeding would.mean a reconstitution, to which, lie thought, the Government- would be opposed. A less rs. Belcher and Anderson considered the formation of a separate southern board was inopportune. What was wanted, m their opinion, was the co-operation of the East and South Committees with the object of assisting each other. The East Committee’s aim was to so improve the Stratford track to join up with Dawson Falls and to ensure a round trip. The committee’s immediate ideas were not centred on the erection of a hostel on the Stratford side. The committee was prepaiod to assist the South Committee in any worthy endeavour, and they considered that their combined voting power on the board vr as sufficient to counteract domination by the northern representatives.

Mr. Walkley was in sympathy with Air. Bridger to a certain point, but considered that the East and South Committees would get where they wanted to by pulling together, even under the ruling of one board. He looked uiion Dawson Falls as more of a Stratford resort than of Hawera, for though the hostel was the nearest mountain point to Hawera it was actually nearer to Stratford, and Hawera's interests therein were, automatically. Stratford's. It was Therefore essential that the two com mi t tees should pull together.

The -hairman agreed that the time was- not ripe for the formation of two boards. Tn the first place- the- sanction of the North and West- Committees for such a step was necessary, and he did not think that -such would be forthcoming. He asked Air. Bridger if lie were prepared to give notice of motion in the direction indicated.

.Mr. Bridger said ihat as a young incmlicr of (lie* commit too lie had a I'oelinjj: ilml the North Committee held a dominating influence over the lxjurd. and his idea had heon to combat this influence, line ho was prepared to abide by the expressed opinion of members. GKNEKAT,. Mr. .1. P. Murjihy’s contract for maintenance of the liaison Falls track for two years at L'l-10 per annum was confirmed. .Mr. Messana reported that ho had made two close inspections of the track daring: the past summer, and f.')>’"d if in every wav satisfactory. Mr. Goodson reported the appointment of a ranger to supervise opos-

sum trapping and the destruction of wild goats. He anticipated very little revenue from opossum trapping licenses. .Mr. .J. P. .Murphy presented a detailed report in connection with the recent ICgmont fatality. lie was ticcorded a vote of thanks on the motion of the chairman and .Mr. Bridger. It was resolved that a letter of appreciation of sortd cs rendered l>o forwarded to MV. X. If. Moss, ex-secre-tary to the committee. The secretary reported receipts for the quarter £214 6s 6d. Accounts amounting to £lO2 17s lOd were passed for payment.