SOUTH WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1931, Page 8

SOUTH WESTLAND

(To The Editor). MAKARORA, May 11. Sir, —Tile meeting report of the Bruce Bay County Council which appeared briefly in the Otago papers last week, will no douot he read by many with .some surprise. This Council have torwarded a resolution to the Government asking that on grounds of economy, such puodc works as roads for tourist traffic as at present in the course of construction in the Lakes district and on the "tyest Coast be discontinued.

It would" appear from this that these gentlemen have not travelled beyond the boundary of their own County. To class the Otago-West Coast road via Haast Pass for instance, ns of no other value' than as a tourist route is en-oneous.

Whilst it must be admitted that its popularity as a tourist route will outrival any other, the completion will achieve much more. Few people realise the extent of good dairying country, extensive timber belts and highly mineralised ranges that exist within the roadless .southern half of the Wctetlaufl province and it is safe to predict this almost unpopulated part will, given road access gucli as is now under construction, attract an even larger population than the northern half, which is favoured with means of access, posts, railways etc. I hope the local Progress League and Chamber of Commerce will take steps to put right such erroneous and damaging influences from councillors and blaze far and near the natural resources of the south. I am, ERIC JAMES.