FACILITIES FOR SKIING

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 28 August 1933, Page 5

FACILITIES FOR SKIING

WORK AT RUAPEHU ASKED. DEPUTATION ON MOUNTAIN. CHATEAU TONGARIRO, Aug. 27. Am 1 unique experience befell the Minister in charge of tourist and health resorts, the Hon. A. Hamilton, during a visit of inspection to Tongariro National Park yesterday, when lie was approached by a deputation from the Ruapehu Ski Club at- Salt Hut, situated at a height of 5500 feet on Mount Ruapehu, the highest altitude at which a Minister of the Crown has ever re-, ceived a deputation in New Zealand. Mr and Mrs Hamilton ciini'bed 3J miles from the Chateau on foot and spent an interesting day iin the snow watching the skiing 'contests on Scoria Plat. They returned at nightfall after a strenuous outing, greatly impressed with the growing popularity of winter sports, in which over 300 people of both. «ioxes are participating at the Chateau this week.

Standing in the straw with the after — noun sun tinting adjacent peaks the Minister listened -to .the representations of the ski club f.or the speeding up of the present measures fo.r improving access to the skiing ground and erection of additional accommodation a't Balt Hut.

The president, Mr A. D. Mead, Auckland, said that while he fully appreciated 1 the limitations of the department with regard to finance, he felt strongly that by -providing a room in which the contestants and visitors could enjoy a comfortable lunch while watching tih<3 sports encouragement would: be given to more people ho visit the Chateau, with corresponding financial returns to the Tourist Department. Mr R. Syme, Haw ora, vice-president, urged that the improvements should be ciTectod during the coming summer ia readiness for next year’s New Zealand amateur ski championships, which would be held at Ruapehu. He said that not long ago- the .rocky steeps around Tonga-riro National Park were looked upon as waste, and it was now realised -that they possessed; immense value frain the sporting a:nd health points of view. beli-cve anv money spent m this park will help to save doctor’s bills-,” said the Minister. “At the same t-imo expenditure of this kind is u direct charge on the taxpayers. Whatever wo do the first consideration is to make the Chateau pay, and if by spending money an imipro.veme.nts here we can encourage more people to come that course will meet with my approval.” Mr B. 1,. Da Hard', Under-Secretary of •Justice and Controller-Generail of Prisoners, said it was lvoped fo add. further attractions to the park by constructing now tracks and paths to .some of the beauty places. The Minister left on his return to Wellington last night.