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Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1929, Page 4

The intimation that the South Island -Motor Union is going to enter a vigorous protest against the cost of restoration of West Coast highways being charged against the Main Highways Account", does not on tlie face of it, appear to be a very charitable attitude, ihe full story of the destruction of the main highway linking Nelson with Keefton and Westport, and from Westport towards Karamea, has not yet been told, but sufficient lias been gleaned to realise that enormous damage has been done, and repairs and restoration are quite beyond the resources of the local bodies concerned. The Murchison County Council in the centre of the destroyed area ;nust be milieu practically. Aides of valuable countr> have been destroyed in company with the destroyed roads and bridges. Il the State <loes noo come to the rescue, where are the funds to come from if the proper authority does not rise to the occasion and take heroic action' There lias been no similar catastrophe in New Zealand to vie with the stupendous damage and effect of tlie late earthquake in the regions specially affected, and to consider that the locality lie left to itself, or that available funds for highways may not be touched for restoration purposes, is to arouse nothing but feelings of contempt for any organisation responsible for raising opposition to anything but tlie best .eingdone for the districts and peoples affected Surely those concerned with the Motor Union of' this Island do not realise tlie condition and the experience of the territory affected, or they would never be callous enough to raise the “vigorous protest” proposed. The motorists in the various parts of the South Island .eniov immensely improved roads, and wo know that on the East Coast in particular the roads are far ahead of the best roads on the West Coast. Enjoying the privileges they do, it seems selfish and unreasonable in the extreme that they should deny to others what they have themselves. Tlie main highway from Nelson to the West Coast is of the highest, national imp'rtnnce. The road is the only means of transport. On the East Coast a railway runs lioside the greatly improved road, but here traffic depend® entirely on the road and for the 1110- 1 meat that means of access is wiped out. J The voice from Otago on this matter intimaiing the attitude of the AToto' - Union, is probably tlie onlv untoward incident, at this time when all New Zealand is otherwise keen and anxious to do for the suffering areas everything possible to minimise the d'Te effects of tlie awful calamity the district is suffering from.