ALPINE GUIDES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 145, 23 June 1930, Page 15

ALPINE GUIDES

NEED FOR CONTROL

PROTECTING THE PUBLIC

With the support, of the New Zealand Alpino Club and many prominent mountaineers, a movement has been revived in the Dominion to set up a governing authority, through which alpino guides must be certified before they are allowed to conduct parties on high climbing (says tho Christchurch "Press")- In this way, it is hoped to protect not only the public but the guides themselves. The Government has been approached through the Minister] fox Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle), who is now investigating the.position fully. Mountain climbers in Christchurch unanimously stress the need-.for such a system, particularly since the sport has now become so widely popular.; The scheme,' as proposed by the president of the club (Mr. Arthur P. Harper) necessitates, first of all, the establishment of a controlling board of expert climbers. One of the Graham brothers, amateurs nominated by the Alpine Club, and a Government representative is the suggested membership of the board, which, shall be the sole judge of the qualifications of those dosiring to act as alpine guides. All expeditions will be classified first, second, and third, according to their difficulty. The guides. similarly . will be classed first; second',, and third, according _to their' experience and practical ability, and will be issued with licences. A firstclass licence will entitle a guide to lead on an: expedition qf the first class. He may take a second-class man as porter or assistant guide. A second-class certificate allows, its holder-to'lead on a second-class expedition, and he can. take a third-class man as porter or second guide; The third-class licence is proposed only for. tho easiest climbs. By this system, each guide by being allowed to follow another holding a higher licence is able-to add to his own Knowledge of the craft. Ultimately a sound corps of guides may be;built up. ?■ "We must have ; proper regulations arid properly qualified men, or there will bo another tragedy,"- Mr.-Harper:told a reporter'of tho "Press," "High alpine., climbing is. a Very technical sport, calling for great skilland years of knowle3ge. At present there is no test imposed or qualification demanded by a competent • authority- before •a- person is given- charge of. a party in country where •an accident isi bound to have serious if not fatal -. results. Work aboy.e the is highly specialised^ involving danger to life if attempted without due experience. To send out at the head, of a party a man not properly, qualified is putting both the guide and the tourists in danger. Yet this is possible and actually happens under present conditions."

Mr. Harper urged that any regulations must be drawn up by experienced alp.mo men, and not simply by-a"Go-: yernment Department. Unless some-, thing; was done on the lines suggested by the club there was grave risk of further accident. If there was any doubt of the need-for the system, he asked only that a proper inquiry might be conducted into the present conditions. The New Zealand Alpine Club would place its services at the Government's disposal. j