The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JUDY 13, 1933. NEED FOR ACTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JUDY 13, 1933. NEED FOR ACTION.

Ix would appear that there is need for action in regard to pushing on the mam south road,, if Westland is to participate m funds which.the Government or the Unemployment Board may Juvvo at disposal, Other districts are moving i H regard to back-block reading and appear to be catching the ear of the authorities. A large number of men are working on tne Lewis Pass route, constructing a road of some value, but not in keeping with the national value of the great south road down the Coast. In Southland, the people induced the Alinister of Employment to fly over the route for the road to the Milford Sound, and won a promise more definite than that of the usual consideration. A very fine road i ( , under construction to the Sound, and more men are likely to be put on and the work advanced more rapidly. Yet the Milford Sound road will lead to a dead end with no return route, and in importance again, is not comparable to the great south road to be pushed on from Weheka. Finally, there is the Otago effort to push a road across the Haast Pass and tap the far south trade and country. Better advance is being made in that quarter than in Westland, where the work has been at a standstill for over twelve months. It is clear unless an agitation is maintained that the authorities will fail to realise the true situation. >lt has been reiterated in these columns over and over again, that the prosecution of the - great mouth road is a national undertaking of particular moment. It opens up Crown Lands and will indulge settlement. As far as the road has gone, settlement has flourished and is well maintained, but beyond, for the want of safe and sure access in all weathers, the various settlements are held back. We take it that the great argument for the 'Sound road is scenic and tourist traffic. Three who know South Westland, will realise that tourists may drink their fill of scenery while travelling the groat south road, and the fact that completed the road would supply a round route from oast to west co?r,ts, will lie a great attraction for tourist traffic, both conducted and private. A writer in a Christchurch paper over the week end, gave a glowing account of tlm trin over the Hnnst Pass, the lowest and easiest pass in the South Inland. This great scenic feature will ho traversed by the "rent south ioad. and form a- notable section of the route. There are thrs good reasons, to push on with a national work which will bo an asset for all time. Country now isolated and neglected will be tapped, and settlers will be able to set in and produce. Facilities for good accer-r, will Rad to a w'-h-r k’^wß' 1 -" of the district potentialities, which contain vain "bio stone and coal deposits as. well as minerals of greet value. The road will load to a great development lending up to the peopling rf the south and creating a new d.RrHR to -\-,sist in supporting the Dominion, Then) is thus every reason

to geele, and in fact demand, the prosecution cf a work of such national value and one which will he the. means of recouping the country for the outlay a.s the means to expand settlement are provided, and the opportunity for fresh development enterprises is presented. The people of Westland as a whole should unite in urging the prosecution of the arterial road south, a work of outstanding value and importance.