SOUTH WESTLAND BRIDGES

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1921, Page 4

SOUTH WESTLAND BRIDGES

ACTION BY PROGRESS LEAGUE

The organiser of the Canterbury Progress League is in receipt of the following letter from the Resident En-, gineer of the Public AVorks Department (Mr J. D. Gillies) of Greymoutb, relative to the position affecting the construction of the South Westland road bridges: ■ “1 have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 28th lob. regarding the bridges on the Arthur’s Pass to Wailio road, and in reply have to advise you that a contract has been let for the balance of the timber required for the Little AVanganui Bridge, and that we are endeavouring to make arrangements for the building of the structure. As you are perhaps aware, tenders were lately called for the Waitnngi Bridge, but no tender was received. A\ e then endeavoured to form a bridge gang to go on with the work on wages, but were unsuccessful in obtaining carpenters. With the present scarcity of labour, both skilled and unskilled, and the absence of competition amongst contractors (due probably to the same cause), it is impossible for me to lorecast when we can get these works completed. “I have to thank vour organisation for its appreciation of the work we are doing on * the Otira-Kumara section, with our permanent surfacemen. This work will be continued as oppportunity offers: that is to say when the men ' can be spared from their ordinary maintenance work.” I p. R. Climio, Organiser of the Canterbury Progress League, lias forwarded the following reply to the Resident Engineer’s communication: — “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the Bth inst. wherein you kindly supply me with information concerning tliit South Westland bridges. It is gratifying to learn that you are endea-

vouring to complete the arrangements for the erection of n bridge over the Little Wanganui river. If the "oik can he proceeded with without interruption there should be a reasonable prospect of having the work completed in time for the next Tourist season, as indicated by the Minister of Public Works and Air Furkert.

“It is unfortunate that no tender was received for the erection of the

Wnitangi Bridge owing to shortage of both skilled and unskilled labour. I

will endeavour as far as T possibly can, to assist the Department in the direction of finding suitable labour, it is extremely important that the TVnitangi bridge— one of the main obstacles to motor transport—should be complet-

ed at the earliest possible moment.” The public of Westland will b t * pleased to note the interest tlm.Canterburv Progress League is taking in important district affairs. 'lbe advocacy of the various matters referred to is sure to.beai' good fruit in the near future.