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Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1926, Page 2

We notice that the members of the Highways Board now on a hustle tour through the South Island, are calling on local hoilies right and left to get a hurry on with road works. Here in Westland where the main highways are under the control and management of the Public Works Department, we are wondering what the Chairman of the Board is going to say to the controlling authority about the slow progress of work. Some explanation will be required why expenditure provided for on the appropriations is not going ahead faster than it is. There is the matter of the renewal of the Wuimea Creek bridge at Stafford. This bridge is one of the most dilapidated on the Const, and certainly needs attention. That attention was considered necessary was evident from tiie fact that the money for the work lias been appropriated by Parliament over and over again. M hen the head of the Department is here next week it is to be hoped there "ill he a definite explanation why the work is held up, and now that it is clear from the statements by the officials that there is money in plenty for the highways, some amends will he made by authorising the work to go ahead at once. Then there are unexpended votes for bridges on the Ross road, some very urgently required, but the work is held in abeyance. Totes have appeared on the appropriations in times past for minor bridges on the south road, but the votes disappeared and the bridges did not materialise. McDonald's creek crossing, in respect to which a correspondent wrote in Tuesday’s issue, was one of the streams on the list to he bridged. There are not any engineering difficulties about the task. The work could go right ahead if the bridge was authorised, and as the Highways Board is to rover the south route, this particular work should he stressed specially. The Board a* we remarked at the outset, is on a luistle tour. It would be a pleasing outcome if it would communicate some of the self-same spirit of bustle to the carrying out of works in Westland

County. Here there is not the opportunity to blame the local- body—the matter is in the hands of the Public Works Department, and ns the head of that Department and of the Highways Board is the same person, Mr Furkert needs only to have a little self-communion in regard to improving the main highways in Westland, and the work should be brought to pass, or he should know the reason why. In all the circumstances it seems very fortunate the Highways Board is making its tour at this juncture.