A. P. HARPER, C.B.E.

Forest and Bird, Issue 104, 1 May 1952, Page 3

A. P. HARPER, C.B.E.

As our last issue was actually in. print when the New Year Honours were announced, we were only able to insert a small announcement in the Quarterly Newsletter of that issue of the honour of appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire conferred on our President, Mr. A. P. Harper. Mr. Harper received the honour for public services. Some of the most important of these, notably his exploration of the South Westland Glacial Scenic Reserves and his subsequent successful efforts towards their reservation were touched on in our report, in the February, 1951, issue, of the award to him of the Loder Cup for 1950.

He has been on the executive of the Society since 1946 and President since 1948. He was

responsible for the formation of the body known as Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand and was for some years its President. He was co-founder, and for many years President, of the New Zealand Alpine Club, and has a world-wide reputation in alpine climbing circles, and his contribution to the science and practice of that activity has been considerable.

His experience in bush and mountain has been invaluable to the authorities in considering the Dominion’s policy as regards National Parks, and he is a member of the Tongariro National Park Board. He is also a member of the New Zealand Geographic Board.

The Society congratulates Mr. Harper on this well-deserved honour.