SIX-HOUR WAIT FOR RESCUE GEAR

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30958, 14 January 1966, Page 1

SIX-HOUR WAIT FOR RESCUE GEAR

(New Zealand Press Association!

AUCKLAND, Jan. 13. Rescuers would have been able to lower the two injured Auckland climbers down the rock face of Mount Jellicoe at least six hours earlier had the necessary equipment been on hand at Mount Cook, the chief ranger of the Mount Cook National Park Board (Mr M. L. Burke) said tonight. “We have been pressing for this Australian-designed equipment for some time now and on the very occasion when we urgently needed it we had to have it flown from Christchurch,” he said. Mr Burke said the equip-

ment used in the rescue was on loan' from the Royal New Zealand Air Force station at Wigram. It arrived by air at Mount Cook six hours after the first rescue party had left. The party was helpless until the gear arrived. “I hope this now emphasises the need to have a set of this equipment permanently based here,” he said. The Federated Mountain Clubs recommended some time ago that we should have it, but nothing has come to light so far.” Mr Burke said he understood the police would be making a report on the matter to the Search and Rescue Organisation.