STATE HIGHWAYS REPORT NOW IN PREPARATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 65, 16 March 1949, Page 4

STATE HIGHWAYS REPORT NOW IN PREPARATION

Following representations to the Government by various local bodies in the district, including the Whakatane Borough Council, for an improvement in the state highways to Whakatane, a report on their present condition is now being prepared by the Main Highways Board for the Minister of Works. This is contained in a letter to the Whakatane Borough Council received at Monday night’s meeting, from the Minister of Works. The Minister states:—

“I have noted ■ your representations concerning the condition of the highways leading to Whakatane from Rotorua, Tauranga and Opotiki. “The principal State highways leading to Whakatane are the Ro-torua-Whakatane state highway, the Whakatane-Gisborne via Waioeka state highway, and the Paeroa-Wha-katane state highway. Insofar as these state highways are concerned the Main Highways Board is responsible, and I have asked the chairman of the Board to report fully to me concerning their present condition.

“Regarding any main highways in the vicinity, these are controlled by the various local authorities and representations concerning their condition should be made to the local body concerned. However, I have asked for a full report, and shall advise you further as. soon as I am able to do so,” the Minister concludes. Keep Roads Graded

The council can not do much about it until the report is prepared, Cr W. Sullivan said. “However, in the meantime I think the main thing is to have the surface graded and a grader kept on the roads,” he added. “I thinlc these highways should get a surface to grade first,” the mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, remarked.

The council is to take no action until the proposed report is known.