A PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY.

Wairarapa Age, 23 July 1936, Page 4

A PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY.

It is not at all surprising that the Mount Holdsworth Club, in its annual report which appears in another column to-day, should raise the question of the care of the valuable mountain reserve in which it is interested being made a public responsibility. Over an extended period of years the club has achieved wonders in carrying out track and other improvements and in providing various facilities on the reserve. Largely on account of the amount of voluntary work done by members, slender financial resources have been made to go a very long way in financing activities of this kind. Some of those visit-’ ing the reserve, probably only a limited number of what the report calls hoodlums, -have made the club an ungrateful return by damaging or wrecking improvements, particularly the mountain house on which a great deal of work and trouble have been expended. There must be a limit to what any voluntary organisation is prepared to do in these conditions and it is not surprising to find the hope expressed by the club in its report that “the time is not far distant when this valuable reserve and pleasure resort should become a public responsibility, and not be left to the willing, voluntary efforts of a small self-appointed committee, with no income or funds other than what the Wairarapa Automibile Association and a few visitors care to contribute.” Thanks to recent action taken by the club, with the support of district local bodies and other organ-

isations, the permanent reservation of the Mount Holdsworth forest is now assured and the question of making some regular provision for the protection and care of this magnificent public asset is well worthy of attention and consideration. Meantime, the club deserves more gratitude and more support than it hasr been getting and certainly is entitled tv expect that all who visit the reserve should take an active interest in safeguarding the improvement works carried out for their benefit. Mr. F. Norris, who is retiring this year from the position of secretary of the club, has an extended period of splendid service to his credit and has earned the gratitude, not only of his fellow members, but of the community for what he has done to popularise and improve the reserve and to make it more accessible.