SAFEGUARDING CLIMBERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20968, 3 September 1931, Page 10

SAFEGUARDING CLIMBERS.

MORE PROVISION NEEDED.

nDAILY WEATHER REPORTS.

EQUIPMENT AND LEADERS.

ORGANISATION OF SEARCHES

[By TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] THE CHATEAU, Wednesday.

Members of alpine sports clubs, the parents of students involved in the present trouble, and others have been exchanging ideas as how these dangers could be reduced in future. In the first place a thorough survey of the whole park is considered essential, the present maps being inadequate and faulty. As to climbing, particularly in winter,

it is considered that the Government meteorologist Should supply daily reports as to expected weather, the custom of chancing the weather being wrong.

As to guiding, alpine clubs naturally resent too much interference and com-

pulsion, but members are generally agreed that no party should go without an experienced leader with local knowledge and that the rule of absolute obedience to the leader should be constantly emphasised. Further no party should leave without a kit inspection by a Chateau authority. Matches and lighters, stimulants and emergency rations are always essential.

It is considered further that a Chateau authority should have power to forbid an ascent by any person of doubtful physical capacity. This should be done by calling for a medical certificate. A signalling system is necessary—possibly a hooter or steam blast at the Chateau —as a guide or recall signal. All climbers should carry whistles, as continual shouting causes exhaustion. A telephone is required at the Salt Memorial Hut. Such communication on Sunday would have saved a duplication of the traversing operations. Prominent lights in line with one at the Chateau would often be a great aid to benighted climbers. An emergency • store with ice axes, ropes, lanterns and torches, etc., and Condy's crystals for staining the track of searchers in the snow, should be kept. Official food caches are necessary in both the huts and at a depot at the head of Whakapapaiti gorge.

Unemployed might be engaged to cut a swathe as near as possible to the edge of the bush or make a line of small cairns round the mountain to the Ohakune hut.

A search organisation should be established in the towns and districts of the locality to enable prompt steps to be taken. Climbers believe that a small flying search party headed by a professional guide should leave if 3t party is not back two hours after dark, the first aim being to know if the missing have left the snow field. A search should be controlled by a mountaineering supervisor within easy call, and an information service should be reduced to a definite system. Further, there should bo a daily official bulletin.

LICENSING OF GUIDES.

FORM OF CONTROL NEEDED.

REQUEST FOR LEGISLATION

[BY TELEGRAPH. — ASSOCIATION'.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday

Emphasising the occurrence at Ruapehu as an illustration, a deputation from the New Zealand Alpine Club and the Federation of Mountain Clubs , to-day-brought before th» Prime Minister, tho Rtr Hon. G. W. Forbes, the urgent necessity for legislation governing alpine climbing. Introducing the deputation, Mr. T. D. Burnett, M.P., said the facilities for alpine climbing were now so wide that anybody could go out on the mountains and many people wore incapable of looking after themselves. Safeguards were absolutely essential. Mr. A. P. Harper, president of the Alpine Club, said as long ago as 1922 he had urged the framing of regulations to ensure that no person should be employed as alpine guide who was not fully qualified, and that bofore any alpine resort was leased to a, private company, it was necessary that somo control should be maintained over the employment cf suitable persons as guides above the snowline. •

He had also submitted to the Government a detailed proposal basod on s the practice iu Switzerland for 50 years, but no action had been taken. Similar representations were made in 1926 and 1927 without result. ' .

Eventually, last year the Minister in chargo of Tourist Health Resorts convened a confercnco of interested parties. Resolutions were carried at the conference that action should bo taken to organise a system of licensing guides, that no one should bo allowed to act without a licence and that a licensing board sliould be set up. A general -schemo was drawn up and approved, but he had boon informed it was unlikely that action would bo talvcn this session. •

Mr. Forbes, replying to, the deputation, said he recognised the matter required attention and he would confer with the Minister of Internal Affairs and seo how far tho proposed legislation had been prepared. He would do his best to see that a bill was brought before Parliament as. soon as possible this session. It might be possible to bring it down in the next few days.

CONDITION OF RESCUED.

GOOD RECOVERIES MADE.

SOME LEAVE FOR HOMES

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] THE CHATEAU. Wednesday.

The condition of Mr. Harold Addis is reported to-night to be improving. Ho is very weak, but Dr. Russell V. Ritchie, of Taumarunui, who saw him at 9.30 p.m., said he was not in any danger and lie should recover completely. Ho has been sleeping well, and his mind is now quite lucid. The six girls ' are doing splendidly. Miss Eva Ellett rose last night and caught tho train for tho North early this morning.

Miss Esme "Brockett is leaving tho Chateau .in the morning, and ifc is expected Miss Fitzio Morris will do so also. Miss Rennie and the Misses Watkins will bo up in tho morning. Mr. Graham 801 l has completely recovered and is -no worse for his trying experience. Ho is taking an active part in the organisation of the search to find Mr. Stanton. Mr. Stewart MacDiarmid has returned to Hamilton, and Mr. Alan Flynn has also departed. Mr. Bruce Spooncr is leaving to-night, and Messrs. John Graham and Gordon Harris, who were still In bed to-day, are expected to get up to-morrow.