ALTERNATIVE ROUTE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 31, 20 March 1942, Page 5

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE

COMMUNICATION WITH GISBORNE

VULNERABILITY AF COAST ROAD

In a letter to the Minister of Defence, Hon. F. Jones, a resident of the Eastern Bay of Plenty area who has had a wide experience in these parts has drawn attention to the inadequacy of roads in the Gis-borne-Opotiki-Whakatane area for military purposes. He claims that as the only road traverses several miles of cliffs on the sea front at Waiotahi which might be shelled by an enemy warship lying only a mile distant. No matter how urgent the plight inight be, Gisborne troops could not pass the point to go to the help of the Bay of Plenty, and troops from the latter place could not go to help Gisborne. There had been however, a motor road 12 miles inland, formed up the Waimana river for 19 miles from Waimana township toi Te YVhana which is a few miles, west of Matawai railway station which is on the Gisborne line and which will shortly be connected with the Wellington line. He understood that the Public Works Department had already a good plan of an aerial survey of the few miles between the two points mentioned, so that no trial grade surveys would be necessary before work was started. I Even a bridle track Avould enable troopers to go to the help of each other at Gisborne or the Bay of Plenty. The writer therefore respectfully suggested that this would be a good place for conscientious objectors to help, if given a reasonably good camp on the joib and paid for their work by the cubic yard of spoil shifted. When this proposed road Avas not required for Avar purposes, it could be used for driving the tens of thousands of stock jioav using the main highway' between. Gisborne and Taneatua railway, Avhich would shorten the drive by 20 miles or more, or three days less travelling in the case of sheep. In advocating this Avar Avork the Avriter made it clear that he had no property or money invested on or near any part of the proposed military access road. In response the Minister has briefly stated that no consideration could be giA ? en the project as there Avas more important work toi do.