POPULARISING MT. EGMONT

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1932, Page 9

POPULARISING MT. EGMONT

AMENDED CHARGES APPROVED. ELECTRICITY TO NORTH HOSTEL. With the object of popularising day trips to the mountain the Egmont National Park Board submitted for the approval of the New Plymouth Council last night amendments to the charges involving the waiving of the Is park fee for the driver of a car, instead of taxi drivers only, and altering > the charge of the rider of a motor-cycle from 2s to Is 6d. It was felt by the committees, said the letter, that the toll revenue would not suffer as a result of .the concessions, but, on the contrary, that they would lead to increased traffic to the mountain. The council gave its consent to the following amended scale and concessions, subject to review as at April 1, 1934: Road fees: Each motor-car including driver, 2s 6d; each motor-cycle, including one rider, Is 6d; each motor lorry or bus carrying less than 20 passengers, ss; each lorry or bus carrying 20 passengers or more, 10s; each person, other than the driver of a car, bus. or motor-cycle, Is; each horse, with or without vehicle, Is. Concessions: (a) On all occasions half park fees be charged organised parties from primary and secondary schools when not less than 12 paying members are in the party, (b) That children under 12 be charged half rates and children under six be admitted free, (c) That season, non-transferable tickets for private cars and drivers, limited to 12 trips a year, be issued at £1 Is, passengers being subject to the usual park fees, (d) That non-transferable personal season tickets expiring on March 31 each year be issued to individuals at 15s a year. The board explained that the lastmentioned concession was specially framed for the benefit of members of the Alpine Club, with the object of encouraging them to visit the mountain more frequently. A formal resolution of the council gave notice of intention to apply to the Loans Board for sanction for a loan of . £750 for sealing the North Egmont Road. In connection with a request for the extension of the electric light system it was decided to inform the board, that subject to the council being able to obtain a license from the Public Works Department, and the consent of the Taranaki Power Board, the council was prepared to carry out the following work at the North Mount Egmont Hostel: (a) Extend the electrical system to the hostel at an estimated cost of £7OO. (b) Installation work in and about the hostel buildings and gate lodge in accordance with the electrical engineer’s specifications; estimated to cost £67. (e) Instal one heavy duty range with two warming ovens; estimated to cost £63. The Park Board was required to agree to the following conditions: To pay the usual charges for energy supplied, with minimum charge of £llO a year for five years; to purchase under the hire-pur-chase system on the council’s usual conflitions the electric range and the necessary installation work at an annual cost of £3O a year for five years; to board the council’s workmen free whilst working in the reserve; to permit the wires to be attached to trees in the park and to assist with labour in clearing the track for the electric line.