LEWIS PASS ROAD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20093, 24 November 1930, Page 17

LEWIS PASS ROAD.

TO THZ EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—l fool I cannot let Mr F. J Williams's letter on tho above subject pass without comment. First of all, Mr Williams says he has been in the vicinity of the work during tho past two months, and after careful investigation is quite at a loss to find out uny useful ourpose this road would serve. Would .Mr V\ illiams into the wool area of Australia to find out the wool requirements of Bradford, or to tho wheat belt in Canada to get the world's herds. 1 '- No, of course not; he would go to the place where the product is to be manufactured and consumed. But when ho wants to find out what use the Lewis Pass road is going to be to Canterbury, or, as a matter of fact. New Zealand, he goes to Hantner Springs to fi>\t his information. Mr Williams apparently does not realise that, there are at the least twenty-five thousand people on tho West Coast, clamouring for this road to be completed. Let him read in Thursday's Piiess what tho members of the Automobile Association have to say. Does lie realise that this road lias the suppurt of the whole of tho Progress Leagues of the South Island, the Automobile Associations of the provinces, and New Zealand, the Chambers of Commerce in Canterbury, Nelson, and Westland, the Commercial Travellers' Association, leading professors, medical men, bankers, stock and station agents, and many other people of note and Associations too numerous to mention ?

Mr Williams's suggestion that the \\ est Coast is catered for with road nnd rail is futile in the extreme. He says it will require 75 miles ot new road from Keefton to Huntner. For years there lias been a good road from Keel ton to Mnruia hot springs, a distance of ciS miles. Now, only about 20 miles of new road through easy country remains to be done to connect east 'with west. The distance between Christciiurch and Keel ton, via Lewis Pass, is ICS miles, against 196 miles via Arthur's Pass. There will be no railway running alongside tho road, as is the case practically wherever you go in New Zealand, so I see no fear of competition on that score.

The Government linvo so far spent over £20,000 on tho I-cwis Pass road. They have temporarily stopped work [t happened to be mv business to make the first iriovo on the Canterbury side to get this road stavted, and it is goint; to be my business to see it finished. As I have put my hand to tho plough, them i.? 110 My ol i Kchoi.l motto was "Vestigia Nulla Hetrorsuin." and it has stood me in f;ood stead. Thanks to the wholeicarted support of the Associations I have previously mentioned, I am quite confident the road will be an accomplished faet in a short period. I do not denv the fact that there are others besides Mr Willivms who would, if it were in their power, stop this—or any —work of progreftS; but these only help to hearten mo to 20 on. When the road is opened, let me extend a welcome to Mr Williams to be my truest. I feel suro he will ho as enthusiastic as tho rest who will shake hands with the people of Westland on that day.—Yours, etc., E. P. H. BURBURY. Wftiau, November 21st