ACCIDENTS ON MOUNTAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1933, Page 7

ACCIDENTS ON MOUNTAIN

APPOINTMENT OF ADVISER. MR. HOOKER ANSWERS CRITICS. A reply to the resolution of protest passed by the East Committee of the Egmont National Park Board regarding the nomination of Mr. L. O. Hooker as Taranaki adviser to police and coroners in matters pertaining to mountain accidents was • made yesterday by Mr. Hooker. Mr. Hooker said that there appeared to be a misunderstanding over the whole position. In the first place, this was not a new appointment. It dated back to April, 1932, and had . only now been brought into the limelight, as it had been found necessary to work in with the coroner as well as with the police in connection with inquests arising out of mountain accidents. Th® appointments were made on the recommendation of Mr. A. P. Harper, who was then president of the New Zealand Alpine Club and is now president of the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand. The purpose of such appointments was stated by Mr. Harper in a letter to Mr. Hooker under date April 7, 1932, as follows: “Our nominee can himself advise the officer on the facts of the case or he can recommend some other experienced climber whose opinion under the circumstances may be of greater value in assisting a true verdict.” It was not suggested, said Mr. Hooker, that these advisers should be climbing experts. Primarily they were, to be men who had a knowledge of the local climbers available and capable of advising the coroner. Thus, the appointee in Auckland was the secretary of the Alpine Sports Club, who was .in a similar position to Mr. Hooker so far as climbing was concerned.

As evidence that he was fully apprised of the needs of the situation Mr. Hooker produced a copy of a letter written by himself, replying to Mr. Harper, on April 15, 1932, in which he stated: “I shall be pleased to act in the capacity you suggest, especially while I have Mr. Rod Syme here to confer with.”

“No doubt,” said Mr. Hooker, “in considering those appointments it was considered that it was preferable to have such men as those nominated, because, while they had an intimate knowledge of climbers and alpinc club organisations, they were not themselves likely to be involved in climbing accidents calling for subsequent inquiry. If it had been a case of an expert climber’s knowledge being required, I would not have accepted the appointment.” Mr. Hooker . is president and secretary of the Mt. Egmont Alpine Club, vice-president of the Federated Mountain Clubs and a member of the executive and of three sub-committees of that body. He is also a member of the Mountain Guides Bill committee, the personnel of which is composed of representatives of the federation, tourist resorts interests, professional guides and Government interests.