MINISTER RECEIVES DEPUTATION ON MOUNTAIN SLOPES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 342, 28 August 1933, Page 6

MINISTER RECEIVES DEPUTATION ON MOUNTAIN SLOPES

Further Facilities at National 1 Park Asked For

VISITORS AT WINTER SPORTS Press Association.— Copyright. Chateau Tongariro, Aug. 27. An unique experience befel the Minister in charge of tourist and health resorts, the Hon. A. Hamilton, during a visit of inspection to Tongariro National Park yesterday, when he was approached by‘a deputation from the Ruapehu Ski Club at Salt Hut, situated at a height of 5500 feet on Mount Ruapehu, the highest altitude at which a Minister of the Crown has ever received a deputation in New Zealand.

Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton climbed 3} miles from the Chateau on foot and spent an interesting day in the snow watching the skiing contests on Scoria Flat. They returned at nightfall after a strenuous outing, greatly impressed with the growing popularity of winter sports, in which over 300 people of both sexes are participating at the Chateau this week. Standing in the snow with the afternoon sun tinting adjacent peaks the Minister listened to the representations of the ski club for the speeding up of the present measures for improving access to the skiing ground and erection of additional accommodation at Salt Hut.

The president, Mr. A. D. Mead, Auckland, said that while he fully appreciated the limitations of the department with regard to finance, he felt strongly that by providing a room in which the contestants and visitors could enjoy a comfortable lunch while watching the sports encouragement would be given to more people to visit the Chateau, with corresponding financial returns to the Tourist Department. /

Mr. R. Syme, Hawera, vice-president, urged that the improvements should b« effected during the coming summer in readiness for next year’s New Zealand amateur ski championships, which would be held at Ruapehu. He said that,not long ago the rocky steeps around Tongariro National Park were looked upon as Waste, and it was now realised that they, possessed immense value from the sporting and health points of view. *1 believe any money spent in this park will help to save doctor’s bills.” said the Minister. “At the same time expenditure of this kind is a direct charge on the taxpayers. Whatever we do the first consideration is to make the Chateau pay, and if by spending money on improvements here we can encourage more people to come that course will meet with my approval.” Mr. B. L. Dallard, Under-Secretary of Justice and Controller-General of Prisons, said it was hoped to add further attractions to the park by constructing new tracks and paths .to some of the beauty places. The Minister left on his return to Wellington last night.

NEED FOR FURTHER HUT ACCOMMODATION The Chateau, Aug. 25. The desirability of further hut accommodation being erected in the National Park, and details of regent safety measures adopted by the club, are discussed in the annual report of the Ruapehu Ski Club, presented at the annual meeting held here last evening. In the absence of the president, Mr. A. D. Mead, of Auckland, Mr. R. Syme, of Hawera, presided. The report stated that every effort would be made to proceed with the erection of suitable huts, either on Mounts Ruapehu or Tongariro, during the .coming summer, the cost to be borne by the William Salt Bequest. One of the schemes under consideration is the erection of a hut which will enable new ski-ing grounds to be opened up in the craters of Tongariro. “Fully appreciating the responsibility that rests on all clubs for the protection of their members,” states the report, “the committee has lost no opportunity of making conditions as safe as possible. By means of circulars and lectures, members have been instructed in such matters as equipment and safety measures. Many of our recommendations in regard to the improvement of tracks, sign-posting, poling of routes and provision of first-aid and emergency equipment have been adopted.” The committee added that it would like to see the track alongside the Mahuia stream completed (this would give access to the locality where a party of 14 climbers was lost in 1931). It states that its suggestion for the setting up of an emergency committee at the Chateau, when club parties were in residence, had been adopted, and the committee concerned had made a number of valuable suggestions for the greater safety of ski-ers and climbers, whereby prompt action might be taken should an emergency arise. A special search fund had also been established by the club. The report showed a club membership of 216, and a credit' balance on the year’s working of £25, which had been added to the accumulated fund.

The fallowing officers were Patron, Mr. W. Robertson, chairman of the Tongariro National Park Board; president, Mr, A. D. Mead, Auckland; vice-presidents, Mr. R. Syme, Hawera, Mr. E. A. Marchant, Wanganui, Mr. N. A. Campbell, Auckland; club captain, Mr. R. C. Murie, Wellington; committee, Messrs. J. C. McComish, G. D. G. Plummer and W. S. Horne, Auckland; Misses H. Bassett-Smith and R. Bassett, and Messrs. E. K. Rathbone and E. Cole, Wanganui; Mr. J. W. Palmer, Hastings; Mr, C.-B. Lewis, Raurimu; and Mr. D. Macpherson, Palmerston North; honorary secretary, Mr. W. S. Rennie, Wanganui; honorary treasurer, Mr. G. F, Lomas, Wanganui.