MOUNTAIN SAFETY.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 346, 29 January 1937, Page 3

MOUNTAIN SAFETY.

NEED FOR GUIDE. Recommendations Of Park Board Member. “As a member of the Egmont National Park Board and the person in charge of the search party that found and brought down the body of the lake Mr Matthews on Thursday last, f desire to place before you and the board ihe following matters for consideration or comment.” stated Mr gercy Thomson, member of the Egmoiit’ National Park Board, in a communication read by the coroner, Mr W. L. Kennedy, J.P., at the inquest at Stratford yesterday into the death of Philip Matthews, the Wellington climber who was killed by a fall on. the mountain.

(1) The need, for an adult male and experienced guide at Dawson Falls. This hostel is. not only a guest house for the entertainment and lodging of tourists and visitors, but is a popular starting-off . place for climbing the mountain. It has an excellent hostess in the person of Mrs Valentine, but whilst admiring the spirit of adventure to be found in youth, and whilst not desirous of adding any pain to the grief of relatives, I feel that had there been a man in change of the calibre and personality of Mr Murphy to advise and direct, the deceased would not have made the venture he did; nor left a young lad of 12 alone at night in Syme Hut on the top of Fantham’s Peak. Youth will always pay greater heed to the advise and guidance of an experienced guide than to a woman, however excellent she may be in other directions. Manganui Gorge Work. (2) That further representations be made by you and the board to the Public Works Department for expediting the work at Manganui Gorge. Had our task been that of carrying out an injured man it would have been still more difficult than it was.

(3) That representations be nrada to the Postmaster -General that the telephone line erected by the Stratford Alpine Club from the Stratford Mountain House to the Manganui Hut be put in order and maintained by the P. and T. Department. Part of the line consists of fencing wire. With the increasing popularity of the fast ski-ing grounds it is highly desirable that this line should be kept in good order, especially in the winter time, in case of urgent medical help being required. I understand that departmental aid has been extended for the telephone line on the slopes of Ruapehu to the Salt Hut. Alpine Clubs’ Assistance., (4) Finally I feel that appreciation should be expressed and recorded by you and the board of the excellent work of the alpine club members. It is now close on 37 years since I started climbing on Egmont, and for many years past I have taken part in the search parties and I have nothing but admiration for the work of the young men of our alpine clubs. We of the, older generation are at times inclined to be impatient of youth, but one’s hope is renewed on the slopes of the mountain on such occasions. These young men never fail to respond on a call for their services being , made, and many not only give their time and experience but also are out of pocket through loss of wages or outlay on travelling expenses.

Too often in their time of trouble the relatives of accident victims on the mountain do not realise this fact.

Mr Kennedy intimated that a copy of Mr Thomson’s comment in regard to a guide, .for Dawson Falls would be sent to the South Committee of the Egmont National Park Board. The Public Works Department, he continued, had assured the East Committee that the Manganui Gorge work would be taken .in hand at once. He would make representations to the Postmaster-General in connection with the telephone, but doubted! whether any good would come of it.