MISUSE OF SYME HUT

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 27 February 1935, Page 8

MISUSE OF SYME HUT

PROTEST TO COMMITTEE. LEFT IN FILTHY CONDITION. > In a report to the South Committee j of the Egmont National Park Board! yesterday, Mr. R. Syme protested; against the misuse by climbers of the Syme Hut, and he advocated stricter, control among parties making use of the hut. On Jiis suggestion, a subcommittee, consisting of Messrs. W.j G. Walkley (chairman), L. O. Hooker | (secretary) and R. Syme, was set up to report on the position. Mr. Syme, in his report, said that some time ago, it had been agreed that members of the Mount Egmont Alpine Club should be charged 6d for the use of the hut during the day and 2s Gd at night, non-members paying; Is Gd and 3s Gd respectively. Among day parties of people not members of tlio Alpine Club or in charge of a’ guide, there appeared to be a considerable amount of misuse of the hut. On December 9 he visited the hut with a large party of 'Alpine Club members who left, the hut in good condition. Towards the end of January, when he again climbed with two Alpine Club members, he found the hut in a filthy condition, and though the party had been anxious to push on, they had to spend two hours cleaning out. Blankets were found on the floor, matches, representing a fire risk, left on a bunk and old clothes and provisions streivn. round the floor.

“To people who have feally taken an interest in the hut the conditions arc often disgusting,” the report continued. The Alpine Club members are bearing tlio full brunt of the damage. Half tlio people using the hut do not pay for the use and T consider people should not be allowed in: the liut unless in charge of a guide or Alpine Club members.” Mr. H. Murray said it seemed to be rather hard to prevent people from using the hut. He agreed that the hut was often found in a filthy condition, and also that Alpine Club members were bearing the full brunt of cleaning it out. “We are not getting a, proper revenue from the hut,” stated Mr. Hooker. “Some £3OO was spent on the building, hut we are not getting an adequate return. Occasionally the hut lias been loft open or even broken oi)on by careless outsiders whose consideration of others is notable by its absence.”