The Waikato Times TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1933. COMMONSENSE IN TRAMPING.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19012, 1 August 1933, Page 4

The Waikato Times TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1933. COMMONSENSE IN TRAMPING.

The sentiments which the average person must experience on reading a report yesterday stating that a member of a tramping party was missing, would reflect little credit upon the powers of organisation for common safety of those who are the members of tramping parties. However, a general denunciation of all trampers because of isolated cases where ordinary precautions have apparently not been taken, would not only be unfair to the majority but would be a needlessly harsh comment on the offenders. Nevertheless, recent events have demonstrated that there is a pressing need of constant watchfulness and keen vigilance over the safety of all. members of a party,' once it enters “dangerous country.” Any country is “ dangerous ” when it presents risks of exposure to treacherous weather conditions, natural hazards, and the dangers of losing one’s way. The failure of a party to observe ordinary and reasonable precautions when tramping in such country may be attended by risk and danger to others who may be anxious to provide assistance, and is therefore a grave responsibility.

That a member of a party should not be found missing until the party returned to the train is in itself difficult to understand. In the case reported yesterday, mishap befell the party during its excursion, and two members received injuries. In these circumstances how much harder is it to understand why a check on the total membership of the party was not immediately taken.

The responsibilities of those who take part in tramping expeditions were the subject l , of comment throughout New Zealand last Easter, when a party of four trampers was lost for fifteen days in the Tararua Ranges behind Otaki. Although the members of the party stoutly maintained that they had taken every precaution, the question was debated for some time, and the prominence given' to it demonstrated that any future tramping mishaps would be subjected to a careful scrutiny for evidence of any lack of care or omission\to fulfil the obligations of precautionary action.

In the case reported yesterday grave anxiety is felt for the safety of the missing student. The very f:act that he. is missing, and if alive, liable to exposure to the blizzards which have been raging in the mountains since yesterday, is harrowing enough. Whether, he might have been found if noticed to be missing immediately is a matter of pure conjecture, but the anxiety of the other members of tho party would have been considerably lessened by the knowledge that everything humanly possible had been done. \