LINKING THE COASTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2134, 28 April 1914, Page 7

LINKING THE COASTS

IMPORTANT ROAD ADVOCATED

MINISTER SYMPATHETIC

A strong plea for Government assistance in the construction of a road connecting tho Mast .and West Coasts was put forward by a deputation representing Hawke's Bay, and Rangitikei local bodies, which was introduced to tho Hon. W. Fraser (Minister of Public Works) yesterday afternoon by Mr. D. H. Guthrie, member for Oroua. Mr. Guthrie - said that what was wanted was a link between Napier and Tailmpe. The construction of a good road would open up large blocks of land lying at tho back of Napier, and would make it possible to cut them up into small areas, by affording a market near at hand. Some of these areas were seventy miles away from Napier, and on'y twenty miles distant from Taihape, and a good road to the latter town would bo of great value to settlers. Such a road would also open up considerable areas, which the Government had acquired, on the eastern sido of tho Rangitikei Range. The Hawke's Bay and Rangitikei local bodies, Mr. Guthrie added, had spent large sums of money on opening up the back districts, but between the two thero lay an unformed portion, which rendered the expenditure useless. In order to complete the connection, tho deputation urged the necessity of tho Government contributing towards what was regarded as a work of national importance, and -suggested that tho Government should give £2 for £1 on a total expenditure of £6000 (the local bodies'providing £2000). Mr. Oldham, president of the Taihape Chamber of Commerce, said the Toad was an absolute necessity. At present it was 200 miles from Napier and Palmerston North, the nearest point on the Main Trunk line. If the road was completed it would be possible to tap the line- at Taihape within 95 miles, which could be covered by motor-car in three or four hours. The Minister: We are riot making motor-car roads now. We are giving access to sections. Mr. Oldham contended that the road would open up very largo areas of land which had recently been taken over by the Government. Mr. Donnelly, representing Hawke's Bay interests, urged that the road would bring in large areas of Native land which had been acquired by the Government during the past few years. Mr. A. LVD. Fraser, reoresenting the Hastings Borough Council, stated that that council had formed the road up to within three miles each side of the Rangitikei River without receiving any subsidv from the Government, and now it had reached the end of its resources^ Replying to these and other representations, the Minister said he admitted that tho work required doing, but he had no money to do ft until Parliament met, and voted the money. It would not be fair to allocate money until applications had been received from all parts of the country, but he would get a full report on the, proposed work, and consider tho application when tho Estimates were being prepared. Ho mteht. say that ho felt inclined to do something for them—(hear, hear)—and it was moro'than possible that a fair sum would bo placed on the Estimates.