ROADING VIA HAAST.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1927, Page 1

ROADING VIA HAAST.

Sir,—To read the .Minister’s reply to Air Seildon’s question and request in the House, which appealed in your issue of Xnv. Kith, gives the impression we are living in a barren, useless,’ jungle and were asking for a road through for tourists! Nothing is, mentioned of the many advantages, the tupping of undeveloped resources, etc., while unwarranted emphasis is made ol many fancied difficulties. it is plain to see our Government persists in avoiding spending monies for development work in this forgotten portion of the Dominion. Why. may one ask ? The statesmen of to-day know little of the hack country of the Dominion and they apparently do not want to lie bothered and seek to avoid the responsibility of developing these unknown regions. They take for grant ed the reports upon which they base their exaggerated report. The agitation for this important work i.s weak they may in error think ; a cry I ruin the wilderness and no importance may he attached to it. Hut this agitation has become per sistent and carries with it the support and sympathy of several public bodies, whose members possess vision, and it is through vision the world progresses. He, indeed, was a wise man who said:

“ Where there i.s no vision the people perish.” Unless we can “ visionise ’’ before our eyes, the needs of development and expansion in our fair country as il ought to he, there is a subtle tendency to acquiesce in things as they are. It was vision that transformed this land into a prosperous country as seen at the present day. Hut why leave parts incomplete? If busy, go-ahead Auckland, with their many needs and problems, should find time to urge the Government’s recognition of this mailing connection, likewise the Southland Progress League. it is apparent this is not only a local need, hut a work of vast importance. Within the Minister’s report the most notable exaggeration is me .Maoris’ objection for ever to bold up an important highway over one paltry mile of country? Have our ofiieials ever questioned the possibility of getting a road round this so-called sacred ground? The estimated cost of constructing this one mile of road (£1200). on level ground for the most part tree of timber and with abundance of metal on the spot is absurd. So also is the approximate estimate of the cost of the section from Haast Pass to Makarova, (If to Mi miles) at £2-1.000. A dray has covered the whole of this distance with the exception of the 0 miles up to the saddle! J<o our Minister's advisers really believe they can “shill” your readers that this section cannot be constructed at less cost £'2-1.000, plus £50.000 for two small bridges? This vast sum to widen or re-deviate a road over a distance ol throe miles plus the necessary widening of the level track down the valley and the erection of two small bridges, is ntterlv ridiculous.

’ Copper (,'rook and Waita might he omitted from the list ol necessary bridges as the new mad line would cross their joint waters with the -Maori at the short span near the mouth, but tbe Wakapohai Creek might have to be bridged.

A very bin mistake has been made in tlie number of streams to he crossed from 1 laast to the Saddle. Fourteen small bridges, some mere culverts, would .suffice to take motor traffic over this section. The Clarke river is not crossed on this section, and the joint waters of the Burke, Haast and Wills could he crossed only once at a good bridge site, necessitating a span similar to the Totara bridge, near Moss, plus a short approach. This would he the largest bridge on this section. Above this the Wills is already bridged hut would require sundry alterations to carry vehicle traffic. To classify this section as purely suitable as a tourist road alone is also an error. The large tints in this valley would accommodate many farms suitable for dairying. Tt apparently has not occurred to tie .Minister what the hundreds of bead cattle, molis of horses and the many thousands of deer exist on. His emphasis of the population too is amusing. Hid the Minister over know a similar country to prosper apd support

a population without roads i Few people would believe that it is not impossible now to gel a ear to

within two miles of the Hlue ltivei Valley track in the far south of Westland, or to within three miles of Haast Pass from the Alakaroru (Otago) end. I would take this proposition on myself during the winter months for a wager. Perhaps tbe export iigures from north Westland would help the Government to look more kindly towards the south, Ticca use what the district can produce so can the southern part, if given the necessary access. Perhaps the party of public, all outside supporters. at present being organised from Canterbury and Otago will view the matter in a more optimistic light. For the Haast Pass road construction must come. I am. etc., Kirrc JAMES. M.akarora, Xov. 30th.