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Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1930, Page 4

It is very satisfactory to find that the President of the Canterbury Automobile Association has explained himself to the effect that in his advocacy of the Lewis Pass, .route before the Main Highways Boaitf, lie did not do so to the exclusion of the Arthur’s Pass road from favoured treatment by the Board. It is "satisfactory to find that the gentleman if not misreported, was misunderstood, and that he and his colleagues on the influential body they are associated with, are prepared, and in fact, are doing all they can, to advance the interests and fortunes of .he Arthur’s Pass road as a definite and main motor road east and west. In the confession of faith we were glad to notice Mr Dobson was an enthusiastic advocate for the direct Can-terbury-Westland route. We recall that at the conference in Hokitika with the Automobile Association representatives, Mr Dobson was one of the visitors present, and along with the President, sought the support of the Westland motorists to a comprehensive .scheme to improve the Arthur’s

dass-Otira section and beyond down the Waimakariri Valley. The deviation via the railway bridge' crossing of the Waimakariri river, was approved on that occasion, and Mr Dobson has confirmed hi.s views expressed then of the feasibility of the route for suitable motor road to cut out the Bealey crossing, and the rough swift creeks round to Paddy’s Bend, on the existing road line. To assist towards the betterment of motor traffic east to west and vice versa, this deviation road is desirable, and we take it from the report of the meeting held, in Christ- 1 church this week; the consensus of opinion among motorists present was in favour of the improvement referred, to. Now that the misunderstanding is straightened out, and there is agreement on the point, the forces concerned should combine to organise a definite request on the matter to the members of the Main Highways Board, when they will be speeding through this territory shortly after Easier. Both the Greymonth and Westland branches an the Automobile organisations are in agreement, and now ran call on the parent body in Christchurch to hack up the proposal. Willi such unanimity from so influential an organisation contributing so largely to the reading funds of the Dominion, a- request for the improvement, of the arterial connection referred to: should receive! very favourable, consideration from the authorities.