Tramping in New Zealand

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21966, 24 November 1934, Page 8 (Supplement)

Tramping in New Zealand

Among tho more enorgetio members of the community and among those who lore natural benuty nml healthy outdoor exoivise, walking or hiking, as th»> Americans prefer to call it, hns evor been iv popular method of holidaymaking, Hut tramping on an organised scale tuny bo said to have originated in Germany, whence it has spread in recent years over the whole continent, and now to England, Scotland and Ireland. To facilitate the movement and to bring its joys within the reach of slender purses, especially those of young people, chains of " hostels were established at reasonable intervals along the favourite walking routes, and these came to be known in Germany as " Inns of Youth " a name subsequently adopted by other countries for similar institutions.

Apart from its immense value as a means of providing healthy exercise and wholesome inexpensive holidays, the tramping movement is designed in the original words of the Youth Hostel Association of Britain, "to help all, but especially young people, to a greater knowledge, care and love of our land, and to promote good fellowship among trampers of all classes." It is believed that by the interchange of ' international visits, good fellowship and understanding are promoted through the medium of the most important factors in the future peace of the world —the youth of different countries.

When the Sunlight League in Christchurch first suggested that a similar hostel organisation for trampers should be formed in New Zealand, the plan was ridiculed. Fortunately the late Sir Arthur Dobson, chairman of the S.L. Tramping Committee, encouraged the idea, so the hon. secretary and another member of the league set off to tramp Banks Peninsula. Considerable difficulties were met, for, in the past, gates had been left open and fences broken down. Finally, however, tho owners of farms and certain hotels, where no other accommodation was available, generously decided to help the movement, realising the immense benefit of walking expeditions to city dwellers. By consenting to receive trampers at the universal rate of one shilling, which prevails in England, a

WORK OF YOUTH HOS

walking tour became possible even to slender purses. After arranging the hostels the Sunlight League convened a meeting of representatives of tramping clubs on April 8, 1932. The clubs decided to join together to form tho Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand, and the entire control of the hostels passed into their hands. The Y.H.A. is a completely independent body, with its own constitution, and quite separate from the Sunlight League. It is a federation of some 20 or so trampiijg clubs, existing solely for the purpose of encouraging and assisting trampers. The late Sir Arthur Dolbson becamo president, and in those difficult early days, his support was invaluable. The Sunlight League lion, secretary, Miss Wilding, became the Y.H.A. Hon. organiser, and established another chain of hostels in the South Island, on the West Coast, besides being responsible for the publication of most useful trampers' handbooks both on Banks Peninsula and Westland.

In the various countries abroad great financial support has been given to the hostel movement by their governments, as well as by private individuals and in Er gland by the Carnegie trustees, while railway and ferry concessions have aU-o been made. But in New Zealand the movement has for the most part only been made possible at all by the public-spirited help of the hostel owners. Hence the success of the movement here depends largely upon getting it known, and in this, it has been greatly assisted by His Excellency Lord Bledisloe, Mr. Frank Milner, Professor Arnold Wall, and many other eminent men, who have both spoken and written to promote its progress. Eventually it is believed that hostels for trampers will spread all over the more beautiful parts of this country, as it has over the British Isles, and that movement here will become, as its name implies, a national one for New Zealand. Already tramping clubs in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin have discussed forming their own chains of hostels, and members from Wellington and Dunedin have visited the hostels. In Auckland the opportunities are legion, and with the approach of summer it is to be hoped that some energetic members of the community will organise a hostel system of their own.

lieved that as a married man he would prefer to go on living in London, and so it has proved. The furniture and fittings of the Belgrave Square residence combine the modern note in homemaking with decorative effects of a century and a-half ago.

On the ground floor is a ballroom of austere grandeur, with black and white marble walls. The dining room has walls of jade afid marble, and interfretted are niches for the famous pink alabaster swans. Special lighting effects are provided for dining by candlelight. Receptions will be held in the beautiful drawing room, panelled with white pickled wood and showing deep pinkishred velvet curtains. The Louis Fifteenth furniture is varied with other styles, mainly Chippendale, Queen Anne, or Sheraton.

The Princess' huge bedroom has white pickled walnut walls, with a deep inset mirror, and furnishings of the 1780 period. The curtains of the four-poster

bed are of white muslin. The magnificent bathroom adjoining is of black marble, with glass sot in a gold frame. .All the fittings are the last word in modernity. For a country residence the Duko of Kent, as befits his title, has been looking for a house in Kent. It is believed that the choice has fallen on Broome Park, the beautiful house and grounds formerly owned by Lord Kitchener. By the Act of 1910 Prince George was to receive an income of £IO,OOO a year on attaining the age of 21. This bachelor allowance becomes £15,000 a year when he is married.

The King's and Queen's presents to Marina include a diamond and sapphier tiara and much household equipment, including blue silk covers, cushions and bed. The Earl of Hare wood is giving a handsome clock and the Duchess of York pieces of furniture. Princess Marina's mother is herself embroidering much of the trousseau, while the Grecian people are sending beautiful gaily-embroidered peasant frocks, which Marina always wears in preference to a modern sports frock.