MOUNT EGMONT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 91, 16 June 1925, Page 5

MOUNT EGMONT

NATIONAL PARK BOARD. THE STRATFORD H^USE. WHAT OF THE FUTURE? An interesting report of the proceedings of me Taranaki Local todies' Association Jieid at iUthani' recently was made to the meeting of the Stratford Domain Board last night by Mr P. Thomson, who as the representative of the old Domain Board occupies a seat on the board as at present constituted.

. Mr Thomson stated that members of the National Park Board waited on the Association with a view of obtaining an annual grant of £SOO "towards the Board's funds. The application was worked out on the basis of the annual list. The Stratford Borough Council's contribution would be £l6 per year. The Park Board's operations were hampered on account of funds, and if they could obtain that amount, they intended to apply to the Government for a subsidy oi a like amount, giving the Board £IOOO per year. As councillors would recognise', the Park was perhaps oiiie of" the finest assets in Taranaki.. Mr Thomson pointed out that very little had been done by local bodies in Taranaki towards the upkeep of the facilities connected therewith. ile stated in reference to the East or Stratford House that the committee had appointed Mr L. T. Aylwajd as chairman, but the latter had since resigned, and it was necessary to appoint someone in his stead. It vva» the intention of the committee to inspect the present Stratford House and ascertain whether it would be wise to put the local house in repair and have a man in charge, or wiietuw they should endeavour to work in with the Dawson Palls House Committee and' make that House - the House for East aide as well asthe South. A company had been in existence up to recently with the object ol erecting a House on this side, -but there was no doubt the Government sympathy was in favor of putting, our energies into Dawson Falls House. The National Park Board's idea was to establish an up-to-date hostel. North Egmont had one. Anotnei matter they desired to carry out was the re-formation of the North Egmont road. There was also the tap-sealing of the road from the entrance to* Dawson Falls House. To carry out these works and pay the annual interest on the money required and also to further establish and. improve these two houses the amount of £IOOO was necessary. On. behalf of the Board he appealed to the Council to make this donation. It was not a great amount for the Council to grant considering the population of Stratford and the interest that they should taken in the a#airg"of the'National Parkßoardj i The Mayor said the Council could riot allocate any money this year in view of the finances having been allotted. After hearing Mr Thomson, however, he approved of the scheme, but emphasised the point that no money could bo allocated at the present time. Perhaps when the work was finished, the Council might make a grant.

Seconded by Cr. Mclnnea. Cr. Ward thought it would be advisable to defer consideration.in view of Mr Thomson's statement that the committee intended inspecting the present Stratford House. If the committee fixed up the House, it might want a donation to make the road, and it was also possible that a further appeal might be made to the Council for assistance. There. was no immediate hurry as far as he could see. Cr. Ward's motion to the above affect was seconded by Cr. Uoothbridge. The Mayor presumed that when the matter was finally arranged, the Council would make a grant to the Board. If they decided to build the House, they would get more than the Board's allocation as stated, the sum of £IOOO would be distributed among the three Houses. It woulc be wise, he thought, t° approve thf recommendation. He did not want the opinion to become general thai they were hanging up the matter iv see what suited them best. The amendment was carried unanimously.

SHOULD COUNTIES CONTRIBUTE. APPEAL. TO LOCAL BODIES. Some diversity of opinion (says the Eltham Argus) as to whether the Eltham County Council should contribute its portion, decided on at the last meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies' Association, to the £SOO to be raised by the Egmont National Park Board, was expressed at Saturday's meeting of the Eltham County Council, it having been advised that the council's share would be £54 10s. The chairman said he was in favour of the sum being grantel, as the mountain was a great asset to the people all over Taranaki. Cr. McWilliam asked if the county people would benefit by the expense. Councillors: It would attract tourists. Cr. McWilliam said it was a matter of sentiment, but from the utilitarian point of view he would like to know the benefits to the ratepayers.

Cr. Carter spoke strongly in favour of the amount being paid, provided all other local bodies paid their portion. A motion to this effect was moved by Cr. Carter. Cr. Gifford said he was not in favor of spending ratepayers' money on outsiders. The motion was carried with one dissentient (Cr. Messana). The council understood that the portion would not be a yearly debt.