ATAOCIOUS!

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1927, Page 4

ATAOCIOUS !

WEST COAST HOADS. A MOTORIST'S COAIPLAINT. (Christchurch ‘ Press.’’) CHRISTCHUKCH, G«c. 7. A warning to motorists who contemplate spending their holidays touring on the West- Coast was given by Mr Keitcli Iladfield yesterday, speaking to a representative who called on him.

Air Hadfield returned on Saturday from a motor tour on the Coast, lie ( was enthusiastic, as are all visitors, in praise of the lieauties of scenery, but henrtilv condemned the manner in which the roads are maintained. The main roads on the AVest Coast are the care of the Public "Works Department, Air Hadfield said, but their condition is such that the trip to Franz Josef is almost impossible ill a light car such as the 9 h.p. English model he was driving. For many miles he was forced to proceed at only 5 miles per hour, solely owing to the state of the roads. j

The system of grading is the cause of tlie shocking state of the roads. Instead of carting metal and putting it on the road where it may he required the Department has a heavy grader at work, which scrapes up boulders, grass and rubbish from the sides of the road, and deposits the conglomerate material on the crown. In some places lvonvy boulders and rubbish were two feet high along the centre of the roads and progress was difficult even in touring cars with a good clearance. “Even some of the Department's officers found fault with this system of heavily grading the" road." said Mr Hadfiekl, “hut apparently instructions are issued by a foreman who .sees the roads only very occasionally, and the grader will cover miles of road in this devastating work." On the journey from Christchurch up the cast coast and down the West Coast as far as Murchison, the roads I were good. Mr Hndfield said, hut from MurehiMm to Tnangahua Junction the roads wor heavily graded in the manner referred to. From inangalma to lteefton again the road was in unite good order, and from Tteofton to Grcymouth, hut from Greywouth to Otira it was atrocious.

“In the whole length from Greymouth to Otira. a distance of over .10 miles, ’ he concluded, “there were only two road-men trying to make the road passable for traffic. Tt is surely a matter for the Canlorburv .Automobile Association to consider.’’