UP THE MOUNTAIN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 60, 16 July 1913, Page 5

UP THE MOUNTAIN.

THE STRATFORD HOUSE.

MONEY EOll THE TRACK

The East Egmont Mountain House has had a somewhat chequered career, and has always been in need oi money; and that need is still in existence. Some time ago a picture entertainment was given, from which £l4 17s was obtained, this sum being now in the hands of the Chamber of Commerce, though £4 lias been earmarked.

Mr 11. McK. Morison, one of the Stratford members of the Egmont National Park Board, waited on the Chamber and made an appeal for funds. In opening he expressed his thanks to the Chamber for their interest in the past in expenditure on the House. At the present moment it was very hard for the caretaker to get up and down, but the local committee had no funds to spend on the road. The local committee had been over-sanguine and had over-spent the money in hand. The present couple at the House were, ho felt sure, the best possible people for the position. They had gone to the House with their eyes open and did not expect | much revenue at present. He (Mr! Morison) would ask that the money] in the hands of the Chamber should | be handed to the local committee fori expenditure on erecting spouting and j a tank at the House and also on j mending the road. The money to be spent -on the road would keep the j caretaker busy and the, work done) would save a good sum later on. Mr] Jackson, a member of the Chamber, j had agreed to act on the local com-1 mittoe with the speaker and Mr Rodgers, and lie would be able to see how the Chamber’s money was spent. In conclusion, Mr Morison stated that arrangements had now been completed for the telephone to the House—the work would probably be commenced during the next fortnight. Mr J. B. Richards said there had ‘ been much labor in getting the money which was now in hand, and ho wanted to see the money made go as far as possible. A satisfactory arrangement had been made as to the improvement of the road—the Chamber spent £4, the Borough Council £4, and the County Council £4. By this ararngcraent they got £l2 in labor for the £4 granted by the Chamber. He would like to see the balance of the moneysubsidised in similar fashion. Mr S. H. James: Could we not get a pound for pound subsidy from the National Park Board.

Mr Morison: They stretched a point about the telephone and would probably do the same in this case.

Mr Richards moved that £5 of the money in hand be spent, on condition that a pound for pound subsidy was received from the Park Board. Mr R. Masters expressed a fear that any subsidy given would come out of the Board’s annual grant. Mr James said the caretakers were good people for the position, and Mr Williams was a professional photographer, which tended to prove an attraction to the House. Any money which could be spent on making the House more habitable and attractive csbould be spent at once. They would have to draw on the future for the money to be spent; but later on the local committee might be better able to spare it. Mr Kirkwood moved that the balance of the money be spent wholly on the road. It would be futile even if there wa® a place at the end of the track nnles® the track was in decent order. He felt sure that the Park Board would deduct any subsidy from the annual grant. The money should be spent without reference to the Park Board. Mr Morison: The subsidy will ultimately come out of the grant, hut we want to have the money to spend at once.

Mr Kirkwood thought none of the money should be spent on the House—, that should be done by the Park Board.

Mr Morison said he did not press for expenditure on the House—he was content if the money was spent on the track.

Mr Richards moved that the balance of the money be granted to be spent on the track and that the Park Board he asked for a pound for pound subsidy. Mr Kirkwood moved to delete the clause regarding subsidy. The subsidy would jeopardise future grants. Mr James: I believe the Board desires to close the East House if the revenue does not improve; and we had better get as much money as we can before we are closed up. Mr Kirkwood: They ran’t do that.

The motion asking the Board for a subsidy was carried, Mr Kirkwood registering bis vote against it.