Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1927, Page 2

.It is very gratifying to lind flic outside interest taken in the possibilities of Haast Pass route as a first class tourist route. To-day is published an article ended from, the Otago Daily Times dealing with the possibilities of the route and suggesting the road line as the gateway to the west. ’I he article recalls also the declaration made hv the late .Air Sodden many years ago that the promise of the late James Mncniidrcw to place an iron girdle, round the South .Island was to he made a reality hy .Mr Seddon. Unfortunately Air Seddoli’s death intervened shortly alter his public address on the .subject- and the matter lias rested at that excepting for occasional references to the possibility of the scheme. In addition to the supixu't from the Dunedin morning paper and also the Otago Expansion League fwhich likewise has supported the prefect) the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Tourist .League, has also taken the matter up. Writing to Air T. E. A'. Seddon AI.P.. the League President says:—“Noticing that you made some remarks in this connection when discussing the Tourist Department report, we desire to mention some points that we have advanced. When tourists get to say. the Franz Josef glacier, and desire to go either to Alt. Cook or Lake Wnnaka hy ear, they have to retrace their steps from a dead end and make a detour of nearly 300 miles. In view of tile likelihood that most of the traffic will he of a seasonal and tourist character, we .suggested that, it might fairly lie made a toll road rind collections could ho made hy the wife of a roadman. The opening of this would mean more visitors at both ends, because a through road would naturally attract more traffic. Even if small annual grants wore obtained, if will bring forward the dnv of completion because the road will have to be made sometime. We presume that the bridging of the livers at the lower end would he fairlv costly." With TPis outside help there .should be the incentive to take the matter up locally more netivolv than in the past. For a long time. AVestla-nd has been agitating. and has boon as a voice crying in the wilderness. The outside offers of help recall what transpired with the completion of the Midland railway. Westland had to work alone for a long time and then along came influential help fr an Canterbury, and the task was accomplished. So with the Haast Pass route—with the assured help of Otago and Southland, as well as Auckland, there is the assistance in sight which should make assurance doubly sure, and encourage the wholehearted effort of the pennlo to see the route in question steadily improved and finally opened up for general traffic east and west.