MOUNTAIN CRAFT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20283, 16 December 1927, Page 12

MOUNTAIN CRAFT.

SKILL OF DOMINION GUIDES. MR A MERY’S STATEMENT QUESTIONED. (Special to Daily Times.} AUCKLAND, December 15. “ The remarks made by Mr L. S. Amery relative to the qualifications of New Zealand guides may create a false impression in the public mind,” said Professor R. M. Algio to-day. ‘‘Mr Amery is reported to have said that in New Zealand there are al present, apart from the Graham brothers, practically no first class qualified guides actually at work. It is true that there are at present at work no guides, who have enjoyed the widespread ■ reputation of the Grahams, but if we can ! helievo the reports it would appear that ' Mr Amery has not climbed with any New i Zealand guides except the Grahams, so that | what ho is now reported to have said 1 is based only upon hearsay. There have I always been and still arc guides at the Hermit ago who are capable of tackling successfully whatever any climber may demand of them. During the last few years a very great deal of high climbing has hcen carried out without any assistance from (he : Grahams. No climbing rocflrd is complete without reference to the remarkable wont done by Guide Frank Milne, a man who would now bo leading the Hermitage guides had it not been for a serious illness contrnced while serving as a soldier in France. If the present guides arc given Iho opportunity they will readily show that they possess all that is needed to justify ihe reputation of being good guides and to entitle them to full confidence. " Finally,” said Professor Aline, “It i ought to bo mentioned that a great ma- j • only of iho visitors to the Hermitage do, inti need the services of guides with jpeeui! : qualifications. It. is only those--arm they ; are nil 100 few—wh.o=o ambitions lie in ' the direction of first-class ascents who re- i L, | it has i . iu: uiir experience that such , guide,, have been available at the Her- j milage whenever they are needed.”