MOUNT EGMONT NATIONAL PARK.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1922, Page 4

MOUNT EGMONT NATIONAL PARK.

In the House of Representatives, on Thursday, the Member for Taranaki stated that he was' going to resist a proposal that he said was being made in connection with the Egmont National Park Board, to lease portions of the reserve to private people for private use. At present the Park Board has power to lease land up to two acres in extent, and the idea is to increase the area to three acres and to give the lessees the necessary right of access, as well as to grant rights and easements in respect of hydro-electrical and high-pressure ■water systems for the service of the hostels and residences within the reserve. To explain: At present the Park Board is leasing the ground on which the northern hostel stands to a separate committee representing the guarantors responsible for the money with which the hostel was built; but, peculiarly enough, the hostel committee has no rights over the track leading to the hostelry. The proposed Bill referred to by Mr. Smith gives that power. The Dawson’s Falls Committee is anxious to give a lease of its land and buildings tu its present custodian, but as the land involved is over two acres in extent, finds it cannot do so. It desires to develop hydro-electricity to light the hostelry, also to install a high-pressure water supply, but finds the present law ■will not allow them to do this. We do not think there is any intention of cutting up the reserve and granting leases to private people outside those concerned with conducting the hostelries. But in order to do justice to the hostelries and provide necessary accommodation to meet the public demands, it is not unreasonable to ask for fuller powers than are now vouchsafed. We do not think the Mount Egmont -National Park Board would for a moment sanction any violation of or encroachment on the rights of the people in connection with their great heritage; we know that members have ever been watchful of the public’s interests, and can be trusted to safeguard them in the future.