The Guardian And Evening Star, with Which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1926. THE MAIN HIGHWAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with Which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1926. THE MAIN HIGHWAY.

Tnu Government proposals affecting tlie control of main highways have been in operation long enough now to give some idea of the advantage to be gained. The AVest Coast is comprised of one district, No. 12 Highway District, stretching from Karamea in the north to AA'aiho in the south. The votes last financial year for the upkeep of the road was £43,719 and the expenditure £35.716. This year the votes total £2-5,2.17, indicating a substantial decline in possible. expenditure. It is noticeable that in the road classification the riiain south road in AA r estland is set down as third class—equal to a maximum of six tons only. This is not fair to the district which is not served by a railway, aiid uliich has to transport the bulk of its goods over the road. One of the proitfises by Mr Coates when Arinister of Public AA’orks, was that the main south road should be improved to carry the traffic of the district. But it is a retrograde 1 step to classify the highway as third class, seeing that it is an arterial highway of such great importance to the district. The limit appears to lie the more remarkable seeing that- at present far heavier loads of material are . being conveyed over the road for the AA'aiho’ bridge work. The road in that respect has had a test which suggests it is equal at least to the second class burden (eight tons) a classification which would bring it uniform to the principal by-roads feeding the main highway. It is due to the settlers to provide a road equal to the reasonable requirements of the district, and a maximum load of eight tons for such a distance is npf an

unreasonable economic load to expect. Carriage necessarily increases in cost as the load declines, and for a run of upwards of 100 miles from loading centres, there should be facilities to carry a fair load. There was a time when some very old bridges on the route were the weakest link in the chain. Those have disappeared and overstructures are in their place. It would appear that if the road to Boss will carry the major load, then the highway beyond should be equal to a similar test. One of the needs of the main south road is widening. There are many parts of the highway in need of widening and improving at sharp corners, hut this doos not affect necessarily, the weight carried. The road has boon singularly free from serious accidents, a tribute to the care exercised by the drivers and the skill displayed. The road is now about to be served with four or five new bridges, and these no doubt will be of a, standard equal to a strain for first class loading. Such being the case it does not appear unreasonable to ask for a reclassification of tlip highway in Westland placed at third class, and request all sections of main highways in the district to be brought up to second class so as to ensure the ready transport of all produce and loading from the various parts of the district. The various main settlement roads serving, the main highway are equal to the eight ton loading, and with a National Department such as the Highway Board, it should not be beyond the means of the Government to keep the highway equal to the district roads. This matter will grow more and more important to South" Westland in particular, and no time should be lost in urging tlio desired change so that freghts will be kept at a reasonable rate, and tlio settlors not- be placed in a difficult position bv high rates brought about by restricted loading over the long distances involved.