who come down - or stay down - see themselves as authorities and will hold their own splinter Press conferences. The reporter is faced with the same difficulty as that confronting the headmaster choosing a master to take children in the hills. As laymen they have no way of judging the other's qualifications, and the man is accepted at his own value.

Since mountaineering is nowadays often a highly organised training programme instead of a sport for the few, accidents become more frequent and mountain rescue is a highly organised service. In these circumstances the attitude towards the Press should be revised so that it no longer varies between a slap-happy imparting of information over a few beers, and stones thrown at photographers. L.D. Bridge, well-known New Zealand mountaineer, has considered this question. He says, “...every reasonable facility should be extended to the Press and other public information units to gather the reports they require...Generally speaking, reporters and editors for newspapers of repute are sympathetic people and if they know where they can get accurate information, they will go there for it. If on the other hand, those concerned with reporting a mishap are unreasonably hindered or side-tracked they must still go ahead and publish the best story they can. The early release of as much correct information as can be made public is essential. Equally important is the continual feeding out of fresh material in the busy early pages and throughout the operation.*

Bridge adds that inaccuracies (accepted in good faith by the newspapers) will not only reflect on the Press but on mountaineers generally, rather than on the original feeder of the erroneous information.

Laymen think climbing is dangerous because most accidents are reported as 'climbing accidents, or accidents to climbers'. Climbing is roped climbing. The majority of accidents so termed involve walkers, and of the rest, many occur to inexperienced people. All are the result of an error in judgement. Often people are reported as possessing experience when they don't. Thus the public is led to believe that accidents are inevitable and climbing dangerous.

Bridge also says, “Obstructive attitudes must never be adopted, and experts should not be drawn into giving opinions on the merits of the search operation or the rights and wrongs of the mishaps in question.“

In the spring of 1962 a man was practising cutting steps in snow above a Continue to page 10

*Mountain Search and Rescue, by L. D. Bridge, published by the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand