Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1925, Page 2

two yen is to ]>ny off' the- loan, and the mail (it was slated) would i>e worn out by then. Tin; o]>inion was expressed that there was not enough attention given to maintenance, which I - si. Tiie en.'t c i putting down roads tlmt would last longer with le s maintenance "a., too great for the value of tin. l land, and the opinion was ex- ! iri-i'il that the Government should one greater assistance. Win re settlers have to finance the making of roads to their properties, the pm: css is a form of betterment tax. Vet the roads arc there to he used hy all. and on that account there should l,e. icrtainly. more assistance from the national purse in the construction of roads. The modern improved roads to carry heavy tralfie are certainly beyond the resources oi the adjacent land, if the whole cost is to be found by the occupier.' along the route. It is pleasing to note that the Railway Department is to improve the Midland train service east am! west between Christchurch and (ireymonth. So far s.i good. hut. we until e the Hokitika end of the service is omitted. This is something of the usual oversight, and a) patently another long drawn out light with the Department must be begun to secure some measure of recognition in regard to an improved train cot lion with the Christchurch express service. The acceleration of the train service between Hreymouth and Hokitika is a long standing need. Now that half an hour is to he rut oil the Midland journey, it should he possible to stive some time on the hist stage of 21 miles covering the trip to Hokitika. Those who make the journey know a great deal about the protracted :-to|.s at wayside stations including the time lost at Kumara by the process of changing engine- alter a twelve mile run. Il is high lime something more modern and time-suvinw were provided to avoid the hum delay at Kumara .Him tion. The improvement in the service is much overdue, and it shows how long-siilfering the | eople arc to have put up with the < omlitioiis of transit- as they are I'm so long a time.