WESTLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1922, Page 1

WESTLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MAIN SOUTH ROAD REPAIRS

Following the discussion at the Chamber of Commerce meeting cn Tuesday night, the following is lie copy of the letter despatched yesterday to the Member for ’Westland ,)ir T. 15. Y. Seddon) on the subject of repairs etc., necessary to the main south road, to cope with the growing volume of traffic in that quarter:

i sir. I am directed to acknowledge your telegram of the 21st. iilt., stating that regulations were being framed , for traffic on the main south road, and that £250 had been approved by the Minister for repairs to the road. I In thanking you" for the intimation * and appreciating your action in the | matter. I am directed to ask that the repairs might he expedited. The i writer was over the road last week-end, | and between Mikonui and Fergusons, repairs are urgently required. | In respect to the regulations, care , should be taken to see that tho gene- ! ral motor lorry traffic, of the district is not nndnlv hampered. The settlers 1 as far south as Waiho, and often beyond. receive the bulk of tbeir supplies bv motor transport, while butter j and cheese export is sent out by lorry I also. At present notices appear on j most of the small bridges beyond the \yiutahn, limiting the total load to five tons. As the lorries weigh about \ four tons, this does not permit an eco- , nominal load to be carried. The consequence is tbe settlers are likely to be seriously affected by tbe restriction of loading. 1 The matter of building up the road and bridges to carry the reasonable , trade of the growing district is, therefore a problem of tbe first importance, ; and if you would Ik* good enough to lay the position before tbe Hon. Ministors it is hoped something satisfactory would result. Loading should not be unduly restricted if the district is to be expected to progress. A reasoni able load should be provided for in i keeping with tbe expansion of tbe district and industrial requirements other- , wise progress in the south will be delayed seriously. Tt is submitted for I tlie consideration of the authorities that the bridges which are adjacent to five belts of standing timber, could bo strengthened cheaply in a temporary way till tbe funds are available for complete reconstruction, while the road could Ire improved substantially by an arrangement' with the owners of machines carrying on heavy traffic, taking in supplies of stone, which could be broken into the ruts, blinded and rolled. In this way the road could carry the traffic till the funds are available for widening and tbe more substantial making-up of the highway. In connection with the request for reasonable attention in tbe upkeep of tbe road, it is submitted that tbe southern district has been denied railway access. The Public Works railway vote passed in 1911 for tbe line to Waitaha was withdrawn. Had that work been gone cm with eleven years ago, it is reasonable to believe tbe first section of the south road now in a very bad way, as a- result of heavy traffic, would have been relieved as also the local body of £I.OOO expenditure in regard to the bridging of Mikonui river. The road traffic question over the section referred to could now be met in a measurel by an arrangement on reasonable lines between Stuart and Chapman Ltd., and the Railway Department for the carriage in Government vehicles of the goods over tbe sawmill tramway from Waitaha to Ross. No doubt a guarantee or bond would be obtainable in respect to tho use of the Railway trucks for transport purposes over tbe sawmill line, so that tbe Department would be safeguarded. This arrangement would be a very useful concession to tho settlers in regard to tbe transport of dairy produce destined for oxpore, and also in forwarding stock to local or East Coast markets. It is an important phase of the matter touching development of the district, which warrants the serious consideration of the Government anxious to see the south district given tlie fullest facility to expand.

1 In the absence of railway communication there is good ground to ask for better road access and safe bridge crossings. Knowing the district as you do, von will realise the vital importance of providing the best means of communication within reasonable bounds. The time for the holiday season traffic will open very soon, and in the ordinary course, hundreds of visiting ears will be touring the south district in the next six months, particularly as all the larger streams but one nr now bridged. The whole subject in the interests of the district becomes one of pressing importance, and I have to ask your most favourable presentation of the requests herein made to the various Government Department’s concerned.