TWO BOARDS?

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1929, Page 2

TWO BOARDS?

SOUTH ISLAND HIGHWAYS. MINISTER EXPLAINS HIS ATTITUDE. s s DUNEDIN, February 8. Wide currency was given to the opini ion expressed by the .Minister for Public - Works (the Mon .Mr Ransom) at Christchurch lately, with regard to the imuii visability of setting up iwo Hoards to r control the highways of the Dominion, - one for the North .Island and one for tiie South. The matter was brought bci fore the -Minister at a deputation toi (lay and All’ Ransom took the opp.irt tuity of explaining that in making i the remark he was voicing his personal - opinion, and not that of the Govern- , meat or Cabinet. It was a question, be ; added, that bad yet to come before - Cabinet. Air A. E. Ansell, ALP., as president L of the Otago Alotor Club, stressed the fact that South Island problems were • different from North Island problems. i and pointed to the construction iund as ‘ i ; evidence that the South Island authori- , ; j ties were not prepared to borrow to ; ; the same extent as those in the North Island. ; The Minister acknowledged that the ' ! problems of the two Islands were different. As he had stated in Christ- " church the three Governmen represent.'!- 1 tives on the Board were South Island | *' men, who had a general knowledge o-i the requirements of this portion of the Dominion. Further, the chairman of the Board (Air Furkert) was well ac- j quainted with the conditions all through the South Island. In the recent tour of Central Otago Mr Furkert seemed to know every bump on the road, , and often counselled the driver of com- j ing trouble.

“Certainly,” added Air Ransom.” he didn't tell the driver of the bump when 1 struck my bead on the roof, hut that was the only one lie didn’t know. At any rate, he didn’t mention it.”