NO FIXED REVENUE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 25 July 1935, Page 10

NO FIXED REVENUE

FINANCE OF PARK BOARD SOUTH COMMITTEE DISCUSSION PRESERVATION OF FOREST. “The Egmont National Park'Board is charged with the responsibility of preserving a great national asset, but without financial assistance it cannot employ rangers and thereby prevent bushfelling or combat the destructiveness of goats,” said Mr Ira J. Bridger (Eltham) at the annual meeting in Ilawera yesterday afternoon of the South Committee. He went on to remark that it was with the object of assisting the board in its difficulty that the Eltham Borough Council this year authorised payment of the annual grant direct to the board for forest preservation instead of to the South Committee. “After all, the board is supreme and .if we are to be as sincere in our hearts as in our talk about this matter, sufficient support should be given to enable it to do something,” he said.

Mr E. Long (Waimate West) expressed the opinion that while the board should receive Government assistance in what was a national work, the committees should continue to develop their respective resorts with the aid of the local bodies’ contributions. He was somewhat surprised that constituent local bodies in the South Committee’s area should pass over the committee, which was in need of funds, and make their grants payable direct to the board. So far as his council was concerned, it would continue to support the South Committee, which in the past, had done good work. Mr Bridger :< I think we have to bo reasonable and try to assist the board for the welfare of the mountain reserve as a whole, and rot any one particular section of it. When faced with such a menace as goats, we cannot ho too parochial. FELLING OF LIVE TREES.

Mr Long: Is the board fitted for such control? It did not show much strength of purpose when this com mittee drew attention to the felling of live trees in the forest reserve.

Mr Bridger: The committee had two representatives on the board, you must remember.

Mr G. J. Bayley, as one of the two representatives, said that everything possible had been done to secure some action by the board It was maintained by Mr L. O. Hooker (secretary to the committee) that the board should be assisted in its special work of preserving the forests by Government subsidy. If £17,000* could be spent on road construction on one particular side of the mountain, the Government could well afford to protect its forest asset. “We all admit that the board must have funds from somewhere,” said Mr A. V. Tait. “It has no fixed revenue, but so far as this committee is concerned the contributions from local bodies in our district are already tagged for specific purposes.” Ihe speaker mentioned the state of the committee’s finances, which had been depleted by the February flood disaster to its hydro-electrical undertaking, and the cost of reconstruction made possible by the generous contribution of the Egmont Alpine Club and members. Mr Bridger considered it regrettable that local 'bodies’ contributions should bo “tagged.” He felt that if the committee gave some lead to assist, the board, the local bodies would be only too willing to permit portion of their contributions being diverted ior that puruose Mr Long: The Waimate County Council for one would not consent. Mr- Bayley : I doubt whether the Hawera Borough Council would allow any portion of its grant to be spent anywhere other than the Dawson 1 alls side of the mountain. , . , Mr A G. Larcom mentioned that the Hawera County Council grant this year was “tagged” for forest preservation on the south side. As president of the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand, Mr Hooke- said tliat 40 clubs were behind the movement to press the Government m the adoption of a definite policy for the' preservation of the national parks and reserves of the Dominion. At, the forthcoming general election questions would be put to every candidate and in this manner it was hoped to gam a considerable weight of public opinion in support of the campaign.

CONTROL OF ROADS. At this stage the chairman of the committee (Mr W. 6. Walkley) mentioned that during his absence in Australia Mr Bayley had watched closely the interests of the committee, and his attention was drawn to statements in the Press that the Main Highways Board should take over the care and maintenance of • the three mountain roads and abolish tolls, “this would bo a serious matter indeed', ’ said Mr Walkley, referring to the latter proposal. “and I. am pleased that Mr Ray ley saw fit to write to the chairman of the board (Mr W. C. Weston 1 and explain his views as a board member ” In his letter, Mr Bayley stated that at a board meeting held recently at Stratford House it was resolved that !). deputation wait on the Main Highways Board with a request that it take over the maintenance of the roads without depriving the committees of their rights to charge tolls. “Without this right I do not consider the committees (or at any rate the South Committee, for which I can speak) could carry on for five minutes.” stated Mr Bayley. “The following figures will show the loss it would mean to the South Committee: Toils collected for the last five years, 1930-31, £6BB 13s ; 1931-32, £589 3s ; 1932-33, £4BB os 3d; 1933-34. £453 11s 9d; 1934-35, £534 Bs. Of these amounts the custodian receives 50 ner cent, plus £IBO per annum to maintain the road, leaving a balance, in tlio case of 1934-35, of £B7 4s to tho committee. LOSS OF TOLL REVENUE. “Tolls are now on the up-grade again and it seems that if this scheme were adopted it Would mean a loss of revenue to the South Committee of at

least £IOO per annum. Nothing should be done without referring the whole question to the individual committees, lo must be remembered that what will suit one committee may not suit another. There is also the iaet that the North Committee tolls are hypothecated for years to come. This being so, the scheme could hardly meet with that committee’s approval.” The committee formally confirmed views as set out l>y Air Bayley. Other members present were Messrs F. C. Mwurie, E. L. Abbott, H. NT Murray, and M- V • Barker. Ai request by iho Eltham Alpine Club, supported by Mr .Murray, that the concession rate for the use of Synie Hut as extended to members of the Mount Egmont Alpine Club also apply to members of the Eltham Club was granted. At the request of the Mount Egmont Club, permission was granted, for the storage of skiis and other equipment under lock in one of the bunk rooms at Robson Lodge. Mention was made by Air Tait of the danger of • further erosion ill the Kapuni stream at the two and a-lialf mile peg and it was suggested that some effort should be made to straighten the watercourse as a protective measure. This matter, which liad an important bearing on the water supply to the Hawera borough, was left to Mes-srs Bayley and V alkley to interview the Alayor of Hawera (Mr J. E. Campbell).

CONTROL OF SYAIE HUT. A report was received front Air R. Syme of recommendations by the Mount Egmont Club for the proper control lot Syme Hut so far as day visitors, particularly non-club members, were 'concerned. It was suggested (I) that use of the hut- be rerused unless the visitor is accompanied (by a club' member or guide; i2) that the glass panel in the emergency key box be replaced by a wooden panel, easily broken; and (3) that a register be kept at Dawson Falls of the names of all persons given possession of a key. Air Hooker mentioned that the hut was used very largely, but the committee was not getting one-third of t)ie revenue that it should. To facilitate the return of the key Air Bridger suggested that a charge of 2s 6d should be made and that amount refunded when, the key is surrendered.

On the motion of Air Long, the recommendations were adopted. The balance-sheet for the year disclosed receipts (including cash in bank carried forward of £1246 14s 4d) totalling £2657 9s 11A and payments £2654 2s 3d (including £1750 6s spent on hydro-electric installation), leaving a credit balance of £3 7s Bd. Tolls for the year showed an improvement over the two previous years and for the first time the sum of £5 was received from campers using their own tents, said Air Walkley. In park fees and car fees there was a distinct improvement, hut there was a slight falling off at the camp house, with an increase at the cottages.

A comparative statement submitted was as follows : TOTAL PARK FEES. £ s. d. 1931-32 589 3 0 ,1932-33 488 5 J 1933- 453 H •> 1934- 534 8 Q * SOURCES OF REVENUE. 1933-31 1934-35 £ s. d. £ s. d. Park 191 16 0 23+ 9 0 Camp House ... 50 18 6 45 14 0 Cottages 26 12 6 43 o 0 Motors 106 18 6 190 1 6 Syme Hut 17 6 3 15 18 6 On the motion of Air Tait the accounts and balance-sheet were adopted. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow : —Chairman, All A. . G. Walkley; deputy-chairman, Air A. V. Tait; representatives on the National Park Board, Messrs Walkley and Tait. , Future meetings were fixed tor tno second Monday of the first month in each quarter.