Club Out in Open

[unclear: a] behalf of the Victoria Ski Club committee [unclear: in] answer to allegations made in a recent [unclear: nt] "Letter to the Editor", I should like to [unclear: y] certain points relating to the bookings of [unclear: uapehu] Lodge during the August University [unclear: avs].

[unclear: previous] years bookings have been [unclear: cted] to 32 people (the present capacity of [unclear: odge]) however this year we managed to [unclear: ge] accomodation for 7 extra members with [unclear: her] club on the mountain. This, we thought [unclear: d] be appreciated due to the likelihood of a [unclear: ski] season and the fact that a lot of [unclear: bers] can only ski during the vacations.

[unclear: okings] were therefore accepted from 39 people, and 2 extra people told that they could stay provided they slept in the mezzanine area. Bunks in the Vic Lodge were allocated on a first in first served basis until the 32 positions were filled. The last seven people were told, before they went, that they were to stay with the other club.

On arrival at Ruapehu the trip leader was faced with the unfortunate situation that those people originally told to go to the other Lodge decided that they weren't going. This, of course, led to a decision being made to send one group of people to the other Lodge against their wishes.

In my opinion any bad feelings caused by this action due to the selfish attitudes of a small minority of our membership and not by either the Booking Officer or the trip leader.

It is hoped that in future if members have problems or feel that they have been badly treated they will approach a committee member and not resort (at least in the first instance) to unnecessarily harsh written attacks.