WEST COAST ROADS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19179, 9 December 1927, Page 9

WEST COAST ROADS.

MR HADFIELD»S CRITICISM RESENTED. SECOND TO NONE IN THB DOMINION. (ariciiL 10 ihs mill GREYMOUTH, December 8. Strong exception was tukou at the mooting of tlio Grcymoutu Borough Council this evening to a statement made by JMr Keith Hadticld, which »i>pearod in Tub Pkks* on Wednesday, under tho beading of "Atrocious.' warning motorists against tho conditions of the West Const roads. Tho matter was brought up by tho Mayor (Mr J. \Y. Greonslndo), who gave, an emphatic denial to the statement. Ho would admit that certain roads in tho borough wore not too Rood for tho reason that tho Council found it difficult with the funds available to keep them in good repair. With regard to the whole of the roads traversing tho West Const, the rapidly increasing traffic from year to year proved that the West Const ronds were second to none in the Dominion. "When a man comes to tho Coast with tho object of casting n stigma on tho engineers, county councils, and the general public," said the Mayor, "it wi s time to take notion to repudiate his statements, which, if not nipped In tho bud, were calculated to do infinite harm- It was n reflection on Messrs J. Hipgins (Grey County engineer) and H. Wntkinson (Public Works engineer), who had no superiors in their profession in New Zealand. When publicity was given to such a statement, it was likely adversely to affect tho whole district." He honestly believed that tho statement made was falso and should be repudiated. Cr. R. J. Williams said that probably tho motorist who had made tho remarks about West Coast roads had traversed thera at a time when the ronds wore being rograded and the work had not been completed. He had h«ard complaints about tho borough ronds mndo under similar circumstances.

Cr. S- B. White Baid he had struck similar trouble when motoring to South Westlnnd recently. Ho had to proceed over some portions of the pond at a slow pace because grading operations were being carried out. When returning, however, the road was quite all right as it had been rolled in the meantime. Cr. T. B. Baty, who claimed to bo in a position to speak on tho West Coast ronds, said the only stretch of road that exception could be taken to was that betweon Wainihinihi and Jackson's on the Qhristehurch road, which was not in good repair just at the present time. "One swallow does not make a summer," said Cr. Baty, and there were no roads in Now Zealand better than those on the West Coast, which were a credit to all concerned in their maintenance. Ho had much pleasure in supporting the Mayor in his attitude.

Cr. F. A. Kitchinghami quoted figures to prove the steady increase in the number of cars railed throueh tho Otira Tunnel. No fewer than 1300 cars for touring purposes had been brought through the,tunnel during tho past nine or ten months; this was the only complaint, concluded Or. Kitchinghnm, and, as Cr. Baty hod remarked, "One swallow does not make a summer."