THE MILFORD HOSTEL

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1931, Page 10

THE MILFORD HOSTEL

REDUCING THE COSTS. INVESTIGATION ORDERED. In response to a suggestion from the south, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, has instructed Mr. G. W, Clinkard (Tourist Department), to prepare details with, a view to reducing the costs of the upkeep of the Te’ Anau-Milford track aud the hostel at Milford Sound, The Minister stated that the contract for the erection of the Milford Hostel had been let in February, 1928, the price being £14,178 3s. The work in--eluded the accommodation house, staff cottage, electric lighting supply, and water and drainage. The Otago Expansion League and the Southland League had pressed for the erection' of a new hostel for a long time before the work was commenced and the Press and the public >f that end of the South Island had appreciated the recognition given to the finest walk in the world. Owing to the abnormal condition of the weather the work of erecting the hostel was not completed until December, 1928. Since then the general economic depression had progressively militated against the success of the track and the. hostel, but those who had visited the beautiful track and <ihe Sound had claimed that the Government of the day had. made a wise move in providing adequate accommodation at one of the; world’s finest scenic resorts. The Milford Sound and other similar .places where the physical difficulties were great wer- always responsible for a considerable, expense, Mr, de la Perrelle said, but they must ..not be condemned because of that. They should be regarded as part of a gr at national asset, for such the tourist traffic to the Dominion undoubtedly was'. Milford Sound and the walk to it were among the Dominion’s greatest attractions. In other parts of the dominion, tourists from overseas had repeatedly stated that they would advise their friends to visit New Zealand if it were only for the sake of the walk over the track.

“We cannot afford to neglet the assets we have built up in the r a ' simply because they are not showing a profit in these days of depression,” Mr. de la Perrelle added.