IN THE MOUNTAINS

Chronicle (Levin), 5 June 1946, Page 6

IN THE MOUNTAINS

FEDERATION'S FINE WORK

TALK TO LEVIN CLUB An interesting account of the activities of the Federated Moun•tain Clubs of New Zealand and ihe business discussed at its recent annual meeting was given to the Levin-Waiopehu Tramping Club's May meeting by its president, Mr.N. M. Thomson, who was re-eiected to the federation executive. Mr. Thomson said the federation was a vast organisation, representing some 5000 skiers, urampers and alpiners throughout New Zealand. lu compnsed piacbicany cvoijr of any size in the Dominion, from moot; iixe uie Tararua Trainui.^ Club, New Zealand Alpine Club, ocniueroury- iviountaineering Club and Ruapehu Ski Club, each with about 50u or more members, down to smaller clubs like that in Levin. It existed for the benefit of the 5000-odd people it repr-esented and also for -future generations, because j the sport was only possible to-day because of what past generations had done. The speaker then detail- j ed the personnel of thg federation, ; headed by Mr. Norman Elder, of j the Heretaunga Club, as president. Continuing, Mr. Thomson said 1 that at the recent annual meeting j the federation had given considera- j tion to afflliation with the Forestj and Bird Protection Society because, it realised that trampers were the j protectors of native wild life and1 it would be their desire to further] the society 's interests. It had also 1 considered afflliation with the Wild 1 Life Control Committee, feeling that it would then be taking a part in the reduction of pests which killed the native birds and ruined! much beautiful bush. The work of the federation, Mr. ; fihomson went on, was carried out by sub-committees. The hut subcommittee prepared lists of all mountaln and tramping huts in the Dominion, circulating them to clubs and keeping them up-to-date. A map sub-committee carried eut the task of gathering and maintaining a library of all maps relating to the mountains. Cluo colours and badges were dealt with by another sub-committee, while yet

another attended to publieity. Ihe • Ski Council had as its care tne arranging of ski tests and' the annual championships, which were*being held this year at Mt. Cook from August 27 to September 5. j Finally, said the speaker, there ; was the accident sub-committee j which inquired into fatal mountain , accidents. Its purpose was thau if J accidents occurred they should be! inquired into and the facts obtain- ; ed, not with the idea of apportion- : ing blame for them, but to circulate the facts to others in the hope of avoiding a similar accident. , There was one person in every district who sat with the coroner at the inquiry, and who could ask any relevant questions with a view to determining the cause of the accident. Mr. Thomson emphasised the need in all mountain excursions for allowing not merely a margin of safety, but a wide margin of safety. ; Another subject considered at the meeting of the federation had been the licensing of guides, and it had been decided to make a third endeavour to have legislation pass- ; : ed to make that possible. The aim ] i was to have regulated conditions, j hours and pay, and it was felt by ; ! this means more and better guides : would be available. j