NATIONAL PARK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20330, 11 February 1928, Page 12

NATIONAL PARK.

REPLY TO CRITICS. STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN. BOARD’S POLICY SOUND. A reply has been made by the chairman of the Tongariro National Park Board (Mr J. B. Thompson, Under-sec-retary of Lands), to the criticism levelled at the board over its alleged poor administration of the area and the unsatisfactory accommodation offered to visitors. The policy of the board, Mr Thompson maintains, is sound, but progress must depend upon the building-up of finances. Referring to Professor Worley’s criticism, Mr Thompson said that he con- i sidered that a lack of knowledge of essential facts had been displayed, and much carping criticism indulged in. It was made to appear as if the Prisons Department had, in some generous way, been the medium of supplying free of cost to the park authorities the Bruce road. Fortunately, it was generally known that the Prisons Department was paid for everv scrap of work done for the National Park Board, and had received up to date over £7OOO for the use of prison labour. Regarding tee clearing of the water tables of Bruce road, and its general maintenance, hero again the Prisons Department would from time to time attend to them at the expense of the board, and it was only a short while ago since such work was attended to. “ One would hardly expect the time of the New Zealand Institute being taken up with a diatribe upon soiled pillows and the lack of hemstitched pillow-slips,” said Mr Thompson. “ Mattresses and pillows in stout casings are supplied in quantity for visitoi’s, but as there is no laundry the board draws the line at providing sheets and pillow-slips. Obviously the caretaker cannot take in washing. . . . Complaints are also made at the '•he for use of baths, but it should be known that the board has very linn led ;u.au., a..u must try and pay ite way. Some £3OO was spent > bathhouses, fitted with porcelain baths, using chip heaters. A small charge of Is is made for a hot bath; but there is no obligation to use it, as there is a stream handy. Every bit oi wood used from the wood pile is supplied by the board free of cost to campers, as the board, at considerable expense, pays for the cutting and carriage of this wood, so that there shall be no invasion of the beautiful bush adjoining the camp.” HOSTEL AND HUTS. Referring to the hostel, which is to be constructed, Mr Thompson said that the plans had been prepared by the Government architect, and that every angle of view had been examined prior to fixing the orientation of the buildings. The board was quite able to determine its requirements for a modern hostel without calling in any further outside advice. The board had only approved the hostel layout and location, and that ...e possible augmentation of units ad lib had not been decided upon. Both hostel and units would be simple, but, at the same time, picturesque, and in no way resembling a hut encampment. He had anticipated that someone disinterested would take exception- to Professor Worley’s remarks regarding dirty huts and the proposed now building, and Mr Salmon had given his impressions and opinions. Mr Thompson stated emphatically that the huts were as clean as could be reasonably expected, and that the onus rested upon each party occupying them to leave the huts clean and sweet upon its departure. Regarding the provision of septic tanks, it was quite impracticable in the past to construct them in view of future building operations; but now that the hostel programme had bben decided upon, tanks would be built which would allow_ of a general linking up of all conveniences. After all was said and done, a camp, and not a township, was the position at date. Mr Thompson said Mr Salmon’s ideals were well known. He desired a positive state of Nature throughout tho park—no hostels, motor roads, or modern facilities. However, there was something like 145,000 acres in the park, and it would be quite easy to escape the “ madding crowd ” of wealthy tourists. It was the duty of the board to cater for others than purely campers, as many persons had no desire to carry camp impedimenta with them. There was room for all, and it was surmised that even the proposed modest hostel would not meet the requirements of the ultra-rich. One day the board and the people would see a big hostel raise its walls in some part of the park. PERSONNEL OF THE BOARD. “Mr Salmon, in referring to ’ rampant officialdom,’ was apparently very illinformed regarding the personnel of the board.” There were only four Government members of the board. Of the remaining 10 members two were the Mayors of Wellington and Auckland respectively, and who would deny that these large cities should not have representation bn the board? The other gentlemen on the board were private members, whose services were gratuitously at the board’s disposal and who had the interests of our national heritage at heart always. The statement that “ only one or two members ever visited the park apart from official business ” was given a flat contradiction. Mr Thompson further commented that it would be difficult to find a board so well balanced and representative of all parties and phases of public interest —the State, sport, forestry, science, scenery preservation, and alpine work, and the public. Mr Thompson concluded by stating that the Park Board would continue to provide facilities from time to time commensurate ■with its finances, and would welcome helpful suggestions from responsible citizens, but that pin-pricking criticism was to be deprecated, as it frequently indicated a lack of knowledge and sense of proportion, not to mention ignorance of the improvements effected by the board since taking up control of the park.