Money Grant To Ski Club

The VUW Ski Club has obtained a $9000 loan-cum-grant from the Students' Association to finance its Mt. Ruapehu hut.

The club's bank overdraft up to $1500, will also be guaranteed by the Association.

Executive finally decided this on 22 April and directed a legal agreement be drawn up.

The Ski Club will use the money to complete its purchase of the Raupehu hut, till recently jointly owned and operated with the Auckland University Ski Club.

The money will also help meet large costs incurred by extending the hut and sanitation requirements of the Tongariro National Park Board.

Club treasurer Ivan Hooker told Salient the Auckland and Vic clubs had built a hut on Ruapehu about 1957.

Last year the Auckland club had gone ahead with a hut of their own.

It had been agreed that the Vic club should pay $3200 for Auckland's share of the existing premises.

In view of rapidly increasing usage of the hut it had been decided to enlarge and improve its amenities.

Some of the latter improvements were required by the National Park Board.

Last year the board had given the hut a lower grading because of its primitive washing and sewage disposal facilities.

Well over $1000 had been spent to install septic tanks. The hut now had three showers and three toilets.

Membership of club is over 200 and rising rapidly. Last year more than $1800 profit and been made on operations.

No difficulty was anticipated in repaying the advances from the Students' Association.