The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1923. A WHIRLWIND TRIP.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1923. A WHIRLWIND TRIP.

Thu tour of the .Muin Highways Board through the South Island, outlined in yesterday’s issue, is of the whirlwind order. It will he at least remarkable for its celerity and should he a good advertisement for the tested qualities of the ears engaged. It is to he hoped the mem liers of the party are all persons of clear vision, so that they * "ill he able to discern objects of interest without special difficulty as the car rushes along. Xo doubt the tour i has heen planned with the object of covering all necessary roads, hut we are wondering it time will suffice to inspect matters of moment en route. In this whirlwind trip everything seems likely to he sacrificed to speed with the , object of getting to a given point by a .stated time. Certainly the best time of the year is selected to attempt such a feat, and the period of daylight is also favorable for long days’ travel. In those respects the fates are on the side of the travellers. The tour, as planned provides for no contingencies such as floods, ncr for any diversion from the beaten track to inspect highway feeders which might come in for consideration as part of the business to ho brought before the Board members. Xo doubt flic Chairman of the Board, Mr F. AV. Furkert, Engineer-in-C’hief of the Dominion, knows the country well, but we take it the tour is with the object of instructing bis colleagues with knowledge of localities, else the tour itself would be of little value, the Chairman being ail fait with the subjeot already. The Board members will he new to most of the districts travelled through, and the passing glimpse they are likely to obtain will he cf very little practical value, unless at various points the special features are brought under their notice. This view suggests the idea that this special tour which will l>e of some erst to the country is going to he diminished ic the practical return it will he to New Zealand, if the whirlwind tactics are to he carried out to the letter as proposed. There has Iceen the suggestion all along that the South Island does not receive the consideration it should in relation to highway matters. and it is to lie hoped that the •speed with which the Board is to pass over the territory of the South Island is not indicative of the passing attention it is intended to pay the South Island as a whole. AA ith regard to Westland, practically only 24 hours are to he devoted to the main highway. The party is to speed in here one evening, and next day visit Wnibo Gorge and return fif possible) in the one evening to Groymouth. The celerity to be shown leaves no time for side trips to feeder roads, nor for any stoppage at the many crossings along the route which need bridging, and which are so often the cause of holding np traffic. Taking the south road ns an example, it is a main highway which is essentially a national road. It is ‘

the arterial highway oil which the development of the country depends. It traverses Crown Lands, the Crown estate chiefly, and it is in the Valleys where the settlement and production are, and whence the prosperity of tlie country comes. Tlie side roads and the hy roads are the care, control, and management job of the local body, hut they are tlie .source ■whence the main highway traffic tomes. The main load, therefore, is in the place of a railway to a great extent, and it is due to the authorities to see that bridges are placed where necessary. and that traffic is maintained to the best advantage in the face of all natural circumstances. Time will he required to investigate the requirements to ensure the south road being brought up to bolter efficiency, and the matter is mi important to the district, that on a visit of the present nature the opportunity should be afforded to go into a definite programme. The road is the first essential need of the district now. Tl would take many years to complete were the railway to begin to-morrow. Also, it would he a protracted period before the south could derive benefit from a harbour. The road is the readiest and best means to give the south the immediate improved access it needs, and now that the Highways Board is coming, we should like to see that aspect, of the local requirements carefully studied. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the essential part of the coming visit will not he speed, hut that time will be found and devoted to the special needs of the district in the way of reading, so that out of the tour will come real good, and that it will lie possible to look hack on the (rip as one of real value to We-dlam' and the country at large.