PARK GRANT REDUCED

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1940, Page 3

PARK GRANT REDUCED

ASSISTANCE FOR EGMONT MORE POSSIBLE LATER

Government assistance to the Egmont ■National Park Board has been substantially reduced this year, a grant of £2oU having been approved compared with £500 last year and amounts above for a number of years. On the other hand the grant to the board represents half tiie total vote for national parks. The board's request for a special grant for hostel repairs has had . to be declined, but it i$ indicated that a further small grant may be made later in the ^ "The total vote, this year for national park purposes is only £500 and, as there are other claims to be considered, I am not in a position to be more generous at the moment," wrote the Hon. F. Langstone to Mr. F. L. Frost, M.P. The board will, I am sure, realise that conditions are exceedingly difficult and that appropriations for park and similar pur poses have had to be heavily reduced. "Nothing to Spare." "I understand that a special grant is desired for repairs to the hostels in the park," the Minister's letter continues. "Unfortunately there is nothing to spare for that purpose and I can only hope that ways and means will be found locally to carry out the work required on the hostels. • ,.■«.! "Later on in the year the position with resppct to the national park vote will he reviewed and, if it proves at all possible to do so, consideration will be given to the question of granting the board some further small measure of assistance. I wish it to be understood, however, that if a further grant is made it can only be a very small one.'' In an accompanying letter to Mr. H. Baily, secretary of the board, Mr. Frost expresses regret that the Minister is not able to grant the full amount asked for, but points out that the positiop will be reviewed later in the year. ^ "We can consider ourselves fortunate, he continues, "in obtaining half of the total vote for thcse purposes at the moment and I have no doubt that when thc matter comes up for review, if it Is at all possible, the Minister will grant further assistance to your work, the value of which he fully realises. "Owing to the insistent demands for economy which are being made, you will appreciate that the grant to your boaid for hostel improvements would create difficultiestln other directions. We can only hope that the tourist season will bring in sufflcient additional revenue for the board to carry out some of the more urgent work itself."