MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3841, 6 September 1928, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

BOARD REPLIES TO CRITICISM. Recently there appeared in the Herald and other district papers correspondence dealing Avith the main higlnvays leading north from Levin. The correspondence Avas brought under the notice of Mr. J. Linklater, M.P. for Manawatu, Avho Avas requested to im-estigate the matter. Mr. Linklater hats done so and writes as folloAvs: — “This morning I waited upon the officers of the Main Highways Board in connection Avith a statement which appeared in your valueable paper recently. I felt sure that the statements Avere not accurate, and Avish you to publish in full the explanation of the future proposals of the Main Higlnvays Board so far as Levin-Marton and LevinPalmerston roads 'are concerned. The communication I have received from Mr. Fui'kert is as follows: — “With reference to the neAvspaper cutting from the Foxton “Herald” concerning Avhich you made enquiries this morning, I have to inform you that the statements contained therein are quite misleading as far as the reference to the Main Higlnvays Board are concerned. “The portion of the road betAveen Levin and Whirokino is a section of the Auckland-Wellington main higlnvay and as such its surfacing is regarded by the Main Higlnvays Board as a more urgent matter than the surfacing of the Levin-Palmer-ston North main higlnvay. “As you are aAvare, a proposal lias been submitted by the Highways Board to the HoroAvhenua County Avhich provides for the completion of the surfacing betAveen Levin and Whirokino, but which does not provide for the completion of the surfacing between Levin and the northern boundary .of llol'OAvhenua County on the LevinPalmerston North main higlnvay. Moreover, there is no proposal in sight to surface the portion of the Lovin-Palmerston North main highway Avithin the Kairanga County. “With regard to the County section of the AucklandWellington main higlnvay betAveen Whirokino and Sanson, the Main Higlnvays Board has made a special offer to the Manawatu County Council Avhich should unquestionably ensure the speedy improvement of this section.

“No announcement has been made by the Main Higlnvays Board that should lead anyone to infer that the Levin-Marton road Avill be left alone for five years. “ There has never been any suggestion by the Main Higlnvays Board that Wanganui and New Plymouth traffic be diverted through Palmerston North. This is quite evident from the fact that the Board in 1924 selected the route via Levin, Foxton and Sanson to be the main route to Auckland. “The statements that influence has been brought to bear on the Main HigliAvays Board to improve Ihe Levin-Palmerston North via Shannon road in preference to the Auckland-Wellington higlnvay are quite contrary to fact.”