Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1929, Page 4

It will W quite a roir-r'iiable request 'c make to the visiting Minister o r ••ho Crown (Mr Veitcli) as the Westhind I’r ‘cress League ore,poses to do. asking for special consideration foi flu* district with regard to public* expenditure whereby the main south road cun he extensively improved. Ji various parts of the Dominion railway: are to lie extended and completed. The c 'onth railway exclusion does not appeal to bo on tlie list, and that being so it is quite fair to ask for special attention to the main road which serves the rail bead. With the mfrked advance now apparent in sontlieiT settlement that district is proving a considerable feeder to the railway ii the matter of stock and produce. We are now approaching the season of Hi year when surplus lambs will be ex norlod, and following the practice o' the past lorries will he on the road day and night, bringing the freight forward to the Ross station. It i: staled more lambs than ever will come out of the south district tin’s season, and it may he accepted that other produce will lie increasing also. Wool fo* instance, is coming forward in greater hulk, the present stable price being the special draw of the stored commodity. The dairy produce is increasing season by season likewise, and tin’s year with the groat growth of feed there should be a further increase, while fat stock will be available earlier if the market*' suit. This class of produce direel from the land is the greatest gain for the country, and with a locality proving so prolific there is surely (‘very reason to look for improved road communication for transport purposes, especially when rail connection is not provided. Now that the bridges over the streams remaining are assured, there' is need to turn to the state of the road, much of which is narrow. A great deal of the road was formed in the first instance from the pioneering tracks, and its width in places is very limited. Safety for traffic alone justifies the claim for a material improvement in widening and grading of danger,ms parts 'flic Progress League, therefore, serves a useful purpose in bringing he sub’ect. to the fere at this juncture. The (lovernmeiit proposes to set out on a bold public works scheme, and with a. work of such national importance as the Main South "Rond in need of improvement, it should certainly have attention, seeing that it is certain for long years to omne Ip he so important a feeder to the South island railway system.