The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” TUESDAY, AUGUST 2nd, 1921.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The W est Coast Times.” TUESDAY, AUGUST 2nd, 1921.

ARTUR I AT j ROADS SCH EM K • Titk Minister of Public Works is now launching his arterial roads scheme, a proposal upon which he lias been working for some time. All over the world the demand for good roads is becoming more and more insistent. This is largely on account of the advancement in road traction, and the need to cater for safer and speedier transit. The development of motor traffic has been phenomenal, and where good roads exist. this fact becomes more and more apparent. Tn America the good roads mqvgmopt is njore advanced than in ■ an? other v ’ r -t

.of the world. Naturally a large -sum of money is involved in the making of good roads to carry the class traffic being specially catered for, and the money is being found freely in some countries. The New Zealand scheme does not promise of speedy realisation, for the financial proposals are as yet very bald and indefinite. As to the principle at stake it is an essential one for permanent progress, and the Minister will be well advised to make the scheme as widely operative a* possible, consistent with the money available. Certain arterial highways are already suggested and Westland can afford to sit up alid take notice of the scheme, for it is very inadequately treated in the proposal outlined. All up the East Coast of this Island from bluff to Blenheim passing through the richly settled country there, obtaining, the Government proposes to lay down one of the superficial roads. From Blenheim the work is to be continued On to Nelson, and as far south only as Hokitika. Here the arterial road is in ceas<>. This seems to bo a short-sighted policy on the part of the authorities, for the road stops just at the point where the Government owned lands-the Crown lands—commence to spread their broad acres. The Government actually is preparing to improve the access to the freehold territory of the private owner, blit its own area of territory which it can benefit so much by national expenditure, is to- he. vetoed. This aspect should be brought to the notice of the Minister without delay. The present Government has already blocked the extension of the South Westland railway. Now it proposes to stop the arterial road scheme practically at the point where the rail- ; way service ends. It appears to be a miscarriage of effective policy, to thus neglect the Crown estate lyilig _t<; the south of Hokitika, and this fact -should be brought under the notice of the J Government without delay. In the main South Westland with its forestry reservations, its endowment lands for State purposes, and its tracts of scenic reserves, is a vast Crown estate, and the force of improving the access through the territory to enhance the value of the lands, appears to be selfevident, T\ hatover value or virtue there is in the arterial highway scheme, the roads through the Crown lands should lie included, and it is to be hoped the need for so doing will be as apparent to the Minister as it is to anyone else who has a knowledge of the general situation. The Government is going to be at great pains and expense to improve access to private property. native lands, and what not. and in this gift of good things it is certainly of national advantage to include also the Crown estate itself.