LEWIS PASS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20102, 4 December 1930, Page 10

LEWIS PASS.

CESSATION OF WORK. J ! PROGRESS LEAGUE : PROTESTS. | DEPUTATION TO WAIT ON* MR j ! ransom. The cessation of the construction work on the Lewis Pass Highway from Glynn Wye to the West Coast was discussed by the executive of the Canterbury Progress League. The executive decided, at its meeting last night, to (send a deputation to the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) to urge that the work should be compie ted. Mr E. P. H. Eurbury, of Glyxin Wye station, who has taken a keen interest in the highway, attended the meeting, and detailed the history of the work. A Round Trip. The, Lewis Pass highway was an absolute necessity, said Mr Burbury. Tiie settlers had been hemmed in since 1683. After the delegation of eighteen months ago had been to the scene, the general opinion was that the road would be a national asset. The people of Itcefton had implored the delegation to do all in its power to have the work pushed on. He had received hundreds of letters from people congratulating him on his efforts. "I am convinced that 1 will drive a car over the Pass yet," said Mr Burbury. "The road will be an outlet for South Island tourists. It will provide a round trip, and motoristß will ; not be compelled, as they are at present, to retrace their steps. To-day the last man went off the job. At one time there were nearly 200 men engaged on the work. All the year is on the spot, and the Government could recommence the work in two days. Only a few miles remain to be surveyed, and thereafter it is just a matter of plough and grader. "All told, £20,000 has r.ow been spent on the work. Pipes have cost £.2uo, and slips are already occurring. It this is left as it is, thousands of pounds of the ratepayers' money will be wasted." Between £SOOO and £6OOO would take the road through the flats, said Mr Burbury. A Bum of £IB,OOO had been placed on the Estimates by the Government for the work. Expenditure in the North. "Speaking on behalf of the motorists, there is no question about the value and importance of this work," said Mr F. W. Johnston. "This is the only work in the South Island that offers more or less semi-permanent relief for the unemployed. But the powers have decreed that this is only work of a minor character. I am told that there are similar worlcs in the Auckland province that are going ahead. Hundreds of thousands of pounds are being spent there, and an army of men are being employed. We should make a pointed request to the Government to continue the work." Mr P. R. Climie (organiser) said that all the men thrown out of employment by the cessation of tho work were coming to tho City. lie suggested that a deputation should wait on the ActingPrime Minister, and urge that the work'should be recommenced. Mr J. Mackenzie said that it was hard to believe that any Government Department could neglect tho work at this stage. The president (Mr James Carr) said that the work would be supported "even by the farmers." It would take the young men out of the Oitv, and be tho means of handing down somej thing of value to posterity. Mr W. J. Boyce moved a resolution on the lines of Mr Climie's suggestion, and Mr O. 33. Jones seconded it. Tho single man's responsibility was in many cases just as great—sometimes greater—than that of the married mail, added Mr Jones. He had discovered that in the course of City Council work, he said. Tho resolution was carried.