THE MAIN HIGHWAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 299, 30 April 1941, Page 5

THE MAIN HIGHWAY

• -* t route through whakatane INTEREST STILL ALIVE y . "I can see that if we want to ;get a full house all we will have to do is put on the agenda that the main highway is to be • discussed and a decision arrived at," said Mr W. Sullivan> chairman of the Whakatane Cham~.ber of Commerce on Monday i: night when concluding a spirited discussion on the most desirable-. route for a new main f^sghway. In closing the debate Mr Sullivan . stated that lie did not consider the time opportune to ask the Government to spend a large sum of nioney on, a new highway. He addled that he had always been * keen to have the main route, passing through the borough and did not care so much wlitre it went so *»-long as the town had it. Suggested) Routes. The discussion was opened by Mr 'G. A. Brabant, who reviewed the /previous meetings on the question :>and) the differences of opini-UJ Over twelve months ago the P..W.D. had! notified that the East Coast -Main Highway Avas being considered and it was suggested that the mew route should go, through the IBorough. of Wliakaitane. The route suggested was from the other sid.: ftl the, bridge, through Stewart Street to Goulstone Road and then through the Maraetotara Gorge. There were objections to this -*■' route. It was not wished by the Hospital authorities that the main highway should pass the hospital •and a roply had been received from the P.W.D, that this would not be done. Another meeting was called when to have the route passing, the school raised opposition while 'business people' Avished the; arterial road to pass through the town. "The Department diid not 1 wish to :make the route through the business area so then it was suggested that the road pass along the; waterfront at the rear of the shops and ■-through the Otawairere Gorge. • First Proposal Best. ■Mr- Brabant stated that in his the first suggestion was the best. He did not think that the traffic would interfere with the patients at the hospital and would at least put the hospital on the map. In_ olher towns main roads passed' such buildings. "If the patients are very bad,, they Avon't be bothered by a few cars passing, and if they are getting better they •will be glad to see the traffic," he said, amidst laughter. Continuing, he said he did not favour the road passing through ■Ohope. People did not Avish to camp a main higlnvay. Again he would v not like the traffic passing through the business area. He stated that

. all other countries there was a "frig move 1 to have all arterial routes jnovedl from towns- and arranged; so that they avoided business areas. . -concluding that the route first yugRested: by the Department Avould nc •quite sufficient for the needs of Whakatane. Change of Minister. Mr B. S. Barry statud that some •six or. eight 1 months ago he had, met 'the Hon. R. Semple. 1 , and Mr Wood, then chief engineer to the P.W.D., Whakatane. They had: assured "him that the railway extension idea ■ Avas "dead" but that the main highway would be carried on in about 12 months time. The route through th<!*Maraetotara Gorge had; been favoured then. However, since then had been changes in the Department and the Hon., Semple had moved on. The Mayor continued that he had *akem the opportunity of interviewing the Hon. Armstrong, newly appointed Minister when he had •visited Whakatane, only to find that the holder of the portfolio had 'never heard of the road. Mr Semple had gone out of olficei and his successor had had no notice of the proposed road from the ex-Minister or ■ his secretary. He did not know ■ ifc had ever been mooted. "Mr Armstrong when I spoke to him H -stated that Ave had no show of getI ting the road until after the war." B -concluded Mr Barry. ■ Town Route Favoured. ■ Mr A. J. Canning favoured, the ■ route through the town. Whaka- ■ -lane had been side-tracked for years ■ —ini connection with the highway ■ -flnd with the railway and on this I occasion' it should stand fast and ■ •6 e t the road through the town. II Hwould he a benefit to the town and ■ v w °uld also benefit Ohope to have highway through thai settle-

Support Avas forthcoming from Mr R. F. Smith who agreed that the town had. been consistently sidetracked. The through traffic never saw Whakatane and he added that by taking the roadi through the town 16 miles in distance would be saved. This would even if it costs morei capital saA r e in maintenance. Deserve Consideration. ■ Tiie speaker added that the business people 'deserved consideration! ns they paid one-third, of the total rates of the town, and the town deserved special consideration from the Government as; there Avas no rail and dcpendedi on a good road. The fact that there was ingress and no outlet left the town deficient ni loading. "If the highway was continued over the hill it would provide a great scenic highway and wouldi bring Ohope within, a iew minutes of the town. The. shortest route should be adopted." Not Modern. Shortest routes Avere necessary according to Mr C. G. Southey who stated that therefore the road should not go through the town as then travelling time Avouldi be cut down. Other countries Avere spending millions, on taking main routes a'~-ay from toAvns and to press, for Hie main route, to pass; through the .jusincss area Avas against modern progress. He considered that for the route to pass through Ohope was Avrong and also stressed the need; for safety for children. He quoted the fault at Tauranga of a!l'owing the raihvay to pass along the Avaterfr^nt.

Mr ,T. Creeke held similar views and following his remarks Mr Canning again spoke to the effect that people should be brought to the town and, also stressed, that a deep sea harbour Avas offering on the coastal route Avhich Avould. attract tourists and be of benefit to the town. Harbour no Asset. Mr Brabant also added to. his previous remarks and contested Mr Manning's claim that the Otawairere harbour Avas an asset. He stated that it Avas of no use as many seamen had borne out. That it would provide a good harbour was a mistaken idea and millions: would have to be spent to improve it. It would be better to spend that money on. the Whakatane harbour which Avas better. He concluded tha.t the town Avas going to be a big place and it Avould be sufficient to have the road passing through the Borough. The chairman then closed the discussion.