The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 1928. WESTLAND ROADS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 1928. WESTLAND ROADS.

At a time when a good deal ot attention is lwing tinned to roads and loading; Air .1. A. Murdoeli. County Chair-ina-u. has issued a pamphlet on the roads of the Westland County. An advanee copy is hetore us, and the document is one which should prove <>t interest to all eonneeted with local government. It tells the story of Westland roads very clearly. It is not possible to study the reading system of the district without eonshleration for the physical features of the country through which the roads have had to he made. It is remarkable In easting the mind hack to the early days, that in so short a time such a long length of roads materialised in so brief a period, and how substantial and well built those early roads have proved. The pioneering in regard to the roads was excellently done. Today there are some 105 vehicle roads in Westland the aggregate mileage of which is 111 miles 60 chains. The estimated cost of the works was £560,745, and the estimated present day value of the existing roads in Westland County is £815,215. As regards heavy transport in Westland, the hulk of it has to he done hv road, for the reason that there are only 11 miles of railway in AYostland County, so that there is plenty of use for the 441 miles of road when the output of heavy commodities from the district are considered. The local Council has acquired road plant to the value of £4,440 to cope with the task of road maintenance. and figures are given to show the proportion of road expenditure to general revenue received. In 1025 it was 67.3 per cent., the following year 50 per cent, and last year 67.0 per cent. This indicates a large outgoing in a very practical way to fulfill the destiny of the Council—the maintenance of roads and bridges. The roads are subjected to much heavy traffic. The main highway of 153 miles carries its share, but there are fully 50 additional miles serving the main road, which are subjected to traffic as severe in weight and speed as that on the main highway. The local traffic is not the only factor to he considered, and the statement shows how the touring traffic is increasing. In the recent Christmas-New Year period 37/ motor ears were railed through Arthur’s Pass tunnel as against 222 the previous year. But that did not exhaust the touring traffic. There was, in addition. the friendly invasion of the many cars which motored over the Otira Gorge as well as.the considerable volume of motor traffic which came down the Coast via Nelson. All such traffio converged on to the "Westland roads, or very few if any touring cars missed the Franz Joseph trio, avid vim side trips to Lake Kanievi and Hokikitika Gorge in which the subsidiary roads of the County were involved. The fact that tourist traffic is increasing so rapidly not only in privately owned ears but also in the public service cars, adds to the volume of maintenance cast upon the local hhdy and the highway authorities. This national traffic should therefore be prominently in mind when considering additional assistance to local bodies under the extra revenue from the petrol tax. Mr Murdoch closes his interesting statement with a review of the general position affecting the main south road, and the need of perfecting that route for modern traffio. A strong claim is made not only because of the Increasing, volume of traffic, but also because of Mr Coates* promise jp the matter whep he was

Minister of Public Works. He expressed the view when declining to extend the railway south, that in tho absence of railway transport, the resident settlers of the south should ho given a good serviceable road so that they would he on an equal footing with settlers in other parts of the Dominion who enjoyed railway facilities readily at hand to take produce and stock quickly to market. That promise remains uiilullilled. for the main south road still lacks bridges. On the East Coast not only is every stream on the highway bridged, hut side hv side runs a railway. The handicap of’ the Westland settlers is at once apparent. and the County Chairman has done well to recall the disability. It- is for the Government of the day to honor Mr Coates’ promise and so enhance the value of the southern road to the settlors and the travelling public.