WEST COAST ROADS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1927, Page 3

WEST COAST ROADS

MR HADFIKLD’S CRITICISM RESENTED. GREY MOUTH, Dec. 8. Strong exception was taken at the meeting of tho Greymouth Borough Council this evening to a statement made by Air Keith Hadlield, which appeared in “The Press” on Wednesday, under tho heading of “Atrocious,” warning motorists against tlie conditions of the West Coast roads.

The matter was brought up by the Mayor (Mr J. AY. Greenslade), who gave an emphatic denial, to the statement. He would admit that certain reads in the borough were not too good for the reason that the Council found it difficult with the funds available to keep them in good repair. With regard to the whole of the roads traversing the West Coast, the rapidly increasing traffic from year to year proved that the West Coast roads were second to none in the Dominion. “When a man comes to the Const with tho object of casting a stigma on the engineers, county councils, and the general public,” said the Alayor, “it was time to take action to repudiate his statements, which, if not nipped in the hud. were calculated to do infinite harm. Tt was a reflection on Alossrs •T. Higgins (Grey County engineer) and TT. AVntkinson (Public Works engineer), who had no superiors in their profession in New Zealand. V hen publicity was given to such a statement, it was likely adversely to affect the whole district.” He honestly believed that the statement made was false and should be repudiated. Cr. It. J. Williams said that probably the motorist who bad made the remarks about West Coast roads had traversed them at a time when the roads were being regraded and the work bad not been completed. He had beard complaints about the borough roads made under similar circumstances.

Cr. S. B. White said ho had struck similar trouble when motoring to South AVestland recently. He had to proceed over some portions of the road at a. slow pace because grading operations were being carried out. When returning, however, the road was quite aM right as it had Keen rolled in the meantime.

Cr. T. B. Baty, who claimed to be in a position to speak on the AVest Coast roads, said the only stretch of road that exception could be taken to was that between Wainibiniki and Jackson’s on tbe Christchurch road, which was not in good repair just at the present time. “One swallow does not make a summer,” said Cr Baty. and there were no roads in New Zealand better than those on the AVest Coast-, which were a credit-to all concerned in their maintenance. He bad much pleasure in supporting ti e Alayor in his attitude.

Cr. F. A. Kitchingham quoted figures to prove the steady increase in the number of cars railed through the Otira Tunnel. No fewer than 1300 cars for touring purposes had been brought through the tunnel during the past nine or ten months; this was the only complaint, concluded Cr Kitchingham, and as Cr Baty had remarked, “One swallow does not make a summer.”