HOSTELS FOR TRAMPERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21296, 24 September 1932, Page 12

HOSTELS FOR TRAMPERS

MOVEMENT IN AUCKLAND PROVISION ON WAITAKERES As a natural development from the greatly increased popularity of tramping, a movement is now on foot locally for the establishment of a series of youth hostels for the convenience of trampers. Such hostels have been established in Germany and on other parts of the Continent for years past, and they are also numerous and widely used in England, where they can now provide accommodation .for 50,000 trampers. The facilities offered at these resting places are simple, orderly and cheap, and are greatly appreciated by the crowds of young people who, in the summer weather especially, feel the call of the open road. The usual charge in England is Is a night for accommodation and Is a meal.

The movement has already taken root in New Zealand, and there are now 10 hostels in the neighbourhood of Christchurch sponsored by the Youth Hostels Association of New Zealand. The Alpine Sports Club is taking the responsibility of calling a first meeting in Auckland of delegates from tramping and mountaineering clubs and from the rovers' division of the Boy Scoufs and the rangers' division of the Girl Guides to consider ways and means of establishing hostels for local trampers. _ 1

Attention will naturally first be given to the Waitakere Ranges, and it is not, anticipated that there will bo much difficulty in arranging for the necessary accommodation there at_ suitable intervals. In most cases either existing buildings will bo adapted to the purpose or arrangements will be entered into with boarding establishments. It is pjirt of the plan that the hostels should be in charge of married couples, who would conduct them and provide meals, but probably cooking facilities would be provided for tlrose who preferred to supply their own food. The accommodation of the hostels, which would bo run under a set of rules, would be open to all members of affiliated clubs. After satisfactory arrangements have been completed for the Waitakpres it is probable that attention will bo paid to the Moumoukais, an area of most attractive country lying to the eastward of Papakura beyond Ilunua. This part offers great possibilities for trampers, its only drawback for most being (hat its distanco from Auckland renders it somewhat inaccessible.