Government To Tackle Road Improvements

Chronicle (Levin), 9 December 1948, Page 11

Government To Tackle Road Improvements

WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. ' Plans for the improvement of the maiu highways and bridges in the various nrain highways diatricts, were outlined by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, in an announcenient tonight. Mr. Nasli said that there was mueh vvork to be done on the country's highways so that they might be improved and preserved and so that,- with. the maxinium of road safety, tliey could play their part efficiently in the vastly iiuportant matter of conuiiunications. "The war caused a sorious iuterruption in the prograuuue of highways improvements whieh the rapid developmcnt of more transport made necessary, ' ' said the Minister. "In the meantime and in spite of petrol rationmg, there liad beeu aAertller intensification of the load our uiain highways have to carry. Works which are now most urgently required are the provision of s'ealed surfaces so that dustfree roads are de\(3loped from towns and small centres of population, the reconptruction of outuiodcd and dangerous sections of highways, and the repJacement of old and unsai'e bridges. "It is the inteiition of the Government to jiush forward with tlieSe works just as fast as labour, equipment aud funds wilL permit. The funds are to come out Sl the present.3 per eent. tap loan that the Government has on issue. With the full support of the investing public, this loan can become a very grcat lielp in tlie • proseeution of this most imp^rtajit work. Indeed, without lielp from this souree, there uiight be a slowing down of our programme and with so mucli to ne doue, I would not like to see that happen. The loan offers- a water tight investniont with a guaranteed return and to my mind, the use of the people 's ' savings for the people 's beaelit, is not only a logical procedure but is also a sound linanciaJ practice. Keferring to the programme for the Wairarapa and .Manawata districts, the Minister said a considerable improvement aiul progressive extension of sealing was taking place on the highways leading from all coastal regions "to tiie maiu arterial Htate highway. ' A new bridgo was being fmilt over the Ruamahunga Rivor al 51 1. Bruce. General improvements, bridging aud sealing were proceeding up the Pohangina aud ► ii'oua valleys and similar .reconstruction was in liand between Feilding and Halcombe.