The Hokitika Guradian TUESDAY, AUGUST 22nd, 1922. GOOD ROADS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guradian TUESDAY, AUGUST 22nd, 1922. GOOD ROADS.

Tub need for good roads in Westland is of course not confined solely to the main south road, to which reference | was made yesterday. There is very

urgent need for attention to the roads much nearer home. In addition to the district roads radiating from Hokitika, there are the streets of the town itself which are drifting into » deplorablo state. As to the district roads the highway to hake Kanieri is of prominent importance. It supplies the nccess to a very pleasant tourist and holiday resort, a place which now enjoys a fame outside the district itself. Of late the road has come to be used for industrial purposes, and the formation of the road is not equal to the volume of traffic. The road is from time to time in very had order, and of late has never been in good order. At present it is very much out of repair, and we shall soon be approaching the period for the holiday traffic. The road needs considerable expenditure to place it in a suitable condition, and it would appear the funds are not readily available from the ordinary sources. The Government grants have dwindled down and local revenue for the road is but of little use. It is a question for the local body to consider ways and means to convert the road into a more attractive condition for the profitable class of traffic which can be drawn to the district. The local body appears to have its hands full in the upkeep of the district roads leading to the settlements whence is derived the bulk of the local revenue. Lake Kanieri road thus becomes a general charge on the district as a whole, , and some practicable scheme should be attempted to find funds whereby the j roads can lie attended to in a compre- j hensive way to carry the traffic which ! desires to use the route. The toll j system was supposed to have passed its | period of usefulness, but with the heavy ( upkeep imposed by the modern form of | traffic, it is coming into use again, and it might be worth considering as a | means to provide money for the efficient j maintenance of Lake Kanieri road. Money has certainly to be found and j the toll system would reach the actual | users of the road. Tn regard to town | streets, many of the principal thorough- i fares are becoming threadbare. They are being worn down to the foundation i The hollow parts being created are pro- I riding water courses, and accentuating the damage. Very soon a large sum of money will be involved in the work of ' reformation. The matter is one - primarily for the Borough Council, but j little attention appears to' be paid j to the liability. The Council some time 1 ago, approved the principle of a loan proposal, hut nothing further has been : done. Meantime the cost of urgent ' works in sight is increasing because of i the continued neglect' of the streets. The position is a serious matter to the I ratepayers. The Council is taking up a I do-nothing attitude, and yet the rates | are increasing. On top of this burden the ratepayers will have to face extra liabilities because of the neglect of. the , Council in regard to its very first duty. 1 to the townspeople—the upkeep of the streets and footpaths. It is conceivable I that the next election of the Borough | Council doc in six or seven months’ j time will l>e contested on the issue of progress or stagnation. Those alive j to the requirements of the town feel ! that- the mgent wants of the town are i receiving nothing hut studied neglect, j and with the outlook before the place this cannot he afforded. Certain op- .

portunities will present themselves to the town and district in the very near future, and the place must prepare to meet them adequately und iu such a way that there will be no reflection on the people and their readiness to prepart for the golden possibilities.