“RED-TAPE” HOLD UP

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20284, 19 April 1934, Page 5

“RED-TAPE” HOLD UP

Arthur’s Pass Board in Critical Mood. ASSISTANCE SOUGHT. The attitude of Government departments generally towards the work at Arthur’s Pass National Park was severely criticised at the annual meeting of the Park Board yesterday. It was stated that the Unemployment Board had been “ ungenerous ” to the board in its requests, and. by one member, that they were continually having difficulty with “red-tape regulations of hide bound departments. ’’ The annual report stated: “Every possible endeavour was made to secure a share in an art union so a? to place funds at the board’s disposal for carrying out necessary works and improvements. It seemed to the board that there were the best grounds on which to base such a request. This board had been without the assistance of public funds which similar bodies have enjoyed, and it was felt that the board had never really had the opportunity to carry out its function properly and make the park adequately available to the public. It is regretted that so far no allotment has been made, although the lists of successful applicants do not disclose very many with so meritorious a claim. "A like fate met a request for the establishment of an unemployment camp for the chief purpose of laying out as an alpine garden an area of waste land. It is proper to say that the Unemployment Board was prepared to make certain arrangements, but not so generous as in many cases, and certainly not sufficiently generous as to enable the board to accept. An expenditure of at least £l2O would have been required, and it was considered that the board could not expend such a [ large sum, and thereby absorb its re- 1

serves, with such a bleak financial outlook. ” It was decided to add to this report that the Unemployment Board had insisted on appointing its own overseer when the Park Board had a man available, and that 7s 6d was offered as a camp allowance when other camps were getting 12s 6d. It was also decided (a), to make further application for a share in an art union: lb), to take up the matter of a camp with the Unemployment Board; and (c), to seek the aid of the Railway and Tourist Departments in raising finances to carry on the work of the board.