THE WHIROKINO ROAD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2625, 28 August 1923, Page 3

THE WHIROKINO ROAD

What is considered to be one of the worst pieces of arterial road on this coast traverses a floating surface for about two miles between Foxton and the Whirokino bridge. It is a source of considerable trouble to the Manawatu County Council, and absorbs considerable expenditure. The County Council advises a deviation of the road to higher ground. The Minister of Public Works was invited to inspect the road with a view to obtaining a Government grant, but was unable to do so. Application was made for a grant, and disappointment was expressed that nothing appeared on the Estimates, although the Horowhenua -County Council were granted assistance for bridges, and the Hutt County Council for the Paekakariki hill. Application was made to the member for the district to apply for a grant on the Supplementary Estimates for this extraordinary work. In reply, Mr Linklater stated that the Minister is firmly of the opinion that the road should be deviated, and the Government would substantially assist in this work. Mr Linklater is pressing for something more definite.

In discussing this matter with Sir James Wilson (chairman of the Manawatu County Council) the latter stated “he thought he was expressing the opinion of the Council in the view that the road should be deviated 1 , but that finance stopped the way. It was estimated that it would cost some £3,000. Having had frequent occasion to acknowledge the wisdom of the advice ‘not to put faith in promises,’ I thought it would be as well to ascertain definitely what the Minister meant by ‘substantially,’ for the matter largely hinged upon his interpretation. I therefore wired back to Mr Linklater, intimating that the present road would have to be kept open to give® settlers access, but that if the main traffic were diverted to another road the access road would not take much upkeep, as the traffic would be light, and I suggested he should ask the Minister to grant £250 to assist in temporarily putting the road in order, and contribute on the £ for £ system up to £1,500 for the deviation. I felt sure if he could get this agreed to, Mr Barber, the member for the riding, would give the ratepayers the opportunity of voting for a loan for the other £1,500 though possibly a Commission would adjudicate upon the proportion the different local bodies would contribute. The matter is now in ‘the lap of the gods,’ and I hope Mr Linklater’s efforts will be successful in inducing the Minister to look favourably on the grant. It would take almost the whole rates in the riding to put and keep this short stretch in proper order, and it is very little used by the people who have to pay for it. If the Minister will help ‘substantially,’ I am sure the best thing, and the cheapest in the end, would be to deviate the road as has been suggested.”