Start Made on Chain of Youth Hostels.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 412, 30 April 1932, Page 17 (Supplement)

Start Made on Chain of Youth Hostels.

Arrangements for Trampers on Banins Peninsula.

(Written for the “STAR” by

Cora Wilding .)

ZEALANDERS are awakening 1 more and more to the joy and • benefit to bp derived from tramping; ' setting forth not merely for one day, > but for several days on end. The 1 Youth Hostel Association overseas ar- ■ ranges for shelter and food at very low’ ; rates for its accredited members, re- ; gardless of age, class or nationality, : although primarily it is intended for young people who often have slender purses. By providing these hostels the carrying of heavy impedimenta for sleeping out is avoided. An attempt on a very tiny scale is about to be tried on Banks Peninsula. If it proves successful, a chain of hostels may gradually spring up if tramping clubs from other districts join in and may spread over New Zealand. The first step towards the inauguration of Youth Hostels in New Zealand was made over a year ago, by the Sunlight League, aim 5 of whose charter is “to advocate the formation of youth hostels.” Professor Arnold Wall wrote an article strongly supporting the plan, which Mr Frank Milner, in a brilliant speech, carried a step further. A subcommittee of the league has steadily worked towards the attainment of this object. Sir Arthur Dobson suggested making a start on Banks Peninsula, but as letters inquiring about accommodation proved fruitless, two members of the league visited the bays. The people approached on the Peninsula were public-spirited and realised the great benefit of tramping tours to young people. They generously promised to receive hikers, to use a good old Anglo-Saxon name, at the same rates as those obtaining overseas, one shilling a bed, one Shilling a meal.

Next, the Sunlight League called a meeting of the leaders of all local tramping clubs, and a committee of representatives of these clubs has been formed into an organising body, on which the Sunlight League will have a delegate, and it is also suggested that the Guiders and Scouters should elect a delegate to act upon it. Although, of .course, conditions in this country differ widely from those overseas, and New Zealand regulations will necessarily be differently drawn up, still it is quite possible that some hints as to the running of these shelters overseas may be utilised here. It may therefore be of interest to hear something about them from Miss Constance Braithwaite of the Christchurch Hospital, who recently visited a chain of fifteen hostels in England. Diversity of Hostels. The hostels in England are certainly not money-making concerns, remarked Miss Braithwaite. They are run by people who realise the immense benefit to be derived from healthy exercise and open-air life and wish to encourage and promote it. Although the movement is primarily for the benefit and use of young people, older people are also welcomed, though they have to pay slightly more for their membership card.

A picturesque old mill house run by the village grocer, was described by Miss Braithwaite, and another hostel run by two Quaker ladies. An offer from a Forest open-air school to provide the association with a hostel, was gladly accepted; teachers and children alike assisting in transforming two barns into dormitories. In one village the local policeman on retiring, fitted up a large upstair room for girls, while the verandah was turned over to boys. A beautiful old country house standing in its own park, and with a wonderful garden, had been bequeathed by the will of a Quaker, for the use and benefit of the young. The trustees had passed over the estate to the Youth Hostel Association. Hostels, before being ‘accepted, are always personally inspected by the central organisation. . Comfortable quarters had been refused at one place at a community camp on account of the atheist and lawless ideas obtaining there. Elsewhere the village inn provided meals, while two adjoining outhouses had been transformed into comfortable dormitories, all the villagers assisting in the conversion. Accommodation and Rules. Whether the sleeping quarters are in an old castle or a converted stable, the

uniform rate of one shilling is charged, and the same standard of simplicity and cleanliness is maintained. Four blankets are provided, though the hiker always carries a simple linen sleeping bag, thus doing away with the expense or labour of washing sheets. In some hostels, three tiers of bunks, one above the other, were described; others had a very cheap type of bed, made specially in Birmingham. Many of these hostels kept provisions such as apples and raisins, etc., to supply future lunches. “ On a trip with the Sierra Club of California, of which I was once a member, the lunch served out before setting forth consisted of ‘hard tack,’ a species of army ration biscuit, cheese and raisins, which was varied from day to day with dates, sardines or nut chocolate, etc. It saved the trouble of sandwiches; also it was excellent for walking.” On arrival at the hostel, the first thing, Miss Braithwaite continued, is to sign the hostel book, which is inspected at intervals by the central organisation, and present at the same time their membership cards, for which the charge for those under 27 is half-a-crown. Each person paying for his own card appears to be more satisfactory, remarked Miss Braithwaite, than for the club or group to which they belong paying their subscription in a lump sum. It seems fairer and also engenders the feeling of individual responsibility. Clothing. When questioned upon that much debated subject of costume, Miss Braithwaite stated that though the majority of girls wore short skirts, well cut and loosely fitting, shorts were also worn, and looked most serviceable. Light skirts were then often carried in ruk-sacs and slipped on before traversing a town, so as not to offend susceptibilities. People are, however, gradually becoming less old-fashioned and narrow in these matters. “My first tramping tour, a great many years ago, was with the Pan Tramping Club, when we crossed from France over a low part of the Pyrenees into Spain. On setting out, the French family with whom I stayed were shocked at the shortness of our skirts. In California, however, ten years later, A

shirt and breeches were universal!; accepted as the proper garb when hili ing over rough country. “ Now comes this latest trampinj fashion, with shirt sleeves well rolle< up, throat bare, and shorts, thus pei mitting the tonic stimulation of sui and air to reach the skin. It is i fashion which must necessarily reac most beneficially upon the younj womanhood of any country adoptin; it. One reason why the ancient Greek had such superb physique was th custom of allowing light and air fre access to their skins when engaged ii exercise.” Accredited people drawn from al classes and from many nations mak use of these hostels in England German, French and Czechoslovakia! are to be seen, though America) women students appeared to Mis Braithwaite to predominate. It i: essential for all foreign visitors befor being admitted to present their Youtl Hostel Association cards of their nat ive country. The movement has be come international, and in each cour try words signifying the same thin] are used. For instance, the Germai Association is called Jugend Herberger Jugend is youth, Herbergen inn o hostel. The New Zealand Title. The name of the New Zealand Assc ciation is now being discussed by tfi committee, which consists of represer tatives of tramping clubs, including thAlpine and Winter Sports Mountain eering Clubs. Although neither th< members of this committee nor th< clubs they represent may make mucl use of the Peninsula hostels, yet the; are giving of their time and experieno to organise the association for th<

r benefit of others as well. Might one * venture to suggest to them that it would be a pity to cut the word youth [ from the name, for although publicspirited men of all ages, of whom the i most energetic and helpful has per--1 haps been Sir Arthur Dobson, with over ninety years to his credit, are l assisting the movement, yet the origi--5 nators of it in New Zealand, Mr F. ? Milner, Professor A. Wall and the j Sunlight League, primarily intended it 1 for the benefit of young people who j probably are the worst victims of these , distressed times. A name which has been discussed is Youth Maru Association, Maru being i the Maori for resting-place or shelter * thus stamping our h>ew Zealand indi'* ’ iduality though linking us up with th* ’ English movement, to whom it ha* ' been suggested w*e should later mak* an affiliation application. Another name suggested is Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand, which is an r exact description of what it is. The j third most favoured proposal at present is to only use Maori words. Some- . one explained: “Do please tell them not to call it by words which no one understands either here or in England and which cannot be found in my - dictionary.” However, the matter rests J entirely in the hands of the committee, - who will surely choose the most approi priate. Very stringent rules as to member- ? ship obtain in England, just as the * rules now being drawn up for Bank • i Peninsula. If the association succeeds r it will result from the loyal co-opera-i tion, from the broad, not insular, vis- : ion of the organisers.