The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1933. FAR SOUTH ROADING.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1933. FAR SOUTH ROADING.

It is very greatly t-o bo regretted mat there is a dilnouit-y in .impressing the uovernment as to the importance of carrying cn -.the’ roading of tlie rar Soutn. Apart Irom what the local ood'y lias .head doing in urging tno matter, the Member for Westland has been alert, and Mr O’Brien has endeavoured to enlist the practical sympathy of Ministers. The latest' reply received by Air 0 Brien was irom the newly elected' Minister of Public Works, Mr Bitcheiier, who ' while -wholly sympathetic ana with good intentions, oxtered nothing practical in reply' to the request. These are times when there is an increasing surplus of unemployed labour. The increase this week is alarming, and there is the obvious the Gov§rjunpnt to try and place the men to the best advantage. It has been shown "betoro and the fact is demonstrated plainly, that where the south district is 1 served with good access, the locality has progressed in h ’ romurltablo manner, Well established settlements now dot the route of the Win ' rpud ,'sputh, which should be an incentive tb carry on the good work. The territory to h e served, as has been pointed out previously, is largely 'Cftown -lands, nnd beino' tho property of the State, it means 9 that the public estate will be enhanced in value and usefulness bv the reading. What is required is that the Government should adopt a bold policy and carry out the national work that is required by linking the Westland road with that of Otago. This has been recognised in part, and a definite start was made at the Otago end to push the road into WestJuici. On this side of the ranges, the highway ends at Welieka, and according to the Minister is a veritable dead end, because there is not the money to build the Fox and Cook rivers bridges. Admitting this to he so, and a temporary deferment for the time being of the bridge works, it is not an answer to the stoppage of the lpnid 'construction works. Money is being found from unemployment funds for read works all over the Dominion, but South Westland is left out of the picture. The Minister of Employment has a scheme to set up camps for mar ried men in doing odd jobs aboui corners, easing grades and so on. This is not much better than chipping grass off the footpaths, when there is a great national work like the main south road requiring extension. There are many miles of road construction which could be gone on with while the Min-, ister is waiting for money to build Tie bridges, -'and this useful work for labourers could be done from the growing ranks of the unemployed. As remarked above, the Minister for Public Works is new to office, and probably he is not aware of the conditions and opportunities for useful road work in Westland. It would be a step in the right direction, if the Member for Westland invited Mr Bitehener to visit the southern part of Westland and see the potentialities of the place. It could bo accepted that no Government rpresentative alive to future developments in the south, would further igno; e -be claims of the district for the national roading required, we would be hopeful something t ngible would soon come to pass.