PROPOSED HIGHWAY

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 201, 30 June 1939, Page 2

PROPOSED HIGHWAY

A QUESTION OF I^OUTE In a recent leading article on the suggested highway between Opotiki. and Wlmkatane, the Bay of Plenty Beacon states:— It- appears somewhat unfortunate that the public meeting convened by His. Worship the Mayor to discover a general consensus of opinion relative to the rente to be taken by; the proposed hew East Coast Highway, should be so' barren of constructive suggestions. All that the Member tor the District has officially gleaned, from the meeting, is that the good citizens of Wlmkatane do net wish the highway taken past their hospital, in other words the .Public Works Department may please itself as to the line of routei provided the local hospital is given a wide berth. While in no way aveise to the recommendation, we feel that the main point at issue was missed completely. Here was a representative gathering of residents, called together for the express purpose of voicing their opinion on the- proposed route, and there is hardly one single word uttered in favour of bringing the main highway through the town of Wlmkatane. What’s wrong with our town, that it should be allowed, to remain on a side road. The issue ot the Beacon hist Monday (19th.) printed! a plan indicating very definitely the suggested route, which, runs pa relic! toi the town’s main street, and involves the crossing of the headland to Ohope and from there across thei backwaters of Ohiwa to Opotiki. It is claimed by some that such an undertaking would be far too expensive, and the P.W.IX is already pledged to an alternative route, ajid that a main highway through the town would be of no material benefit-. If one or all of these arguments were correct, and this has yet to be prpved, surely the natural thing for all public citizens to do is to agitate for as much staterecognition as possible. Left out of the survey for the East Coast Railway, Wlmkatane, a vigorously growing town with a definite future ahead, cannot afford to be pushed on to a side road that acts as a dead end. Through passengers, if the Maractotara- suggestion is followed will see nothing of tlio actual town, and will take away with them a vague impression of suburban Wlmkatane which, will be adjudged, the town proper. Anything of the town’s standing as a port, as a unique historical spot with remarkable Maori traditions, will lielost, while the waterfront and -picturesque Heacte will be missed altogether. These are features that strike the average visitor most forcibly and. even though modern traffic does not allow for aiiy great halting space to passengers, the impression of Whakatane as a busy centre, with port facilities and a potential .commercial centre would be carried from one end of New Zealand to the other. The result would be seen refiectecl in the increased number of visitors, wider business publicity, and greater consiclera ticn from the legislature. Is there a single real argument against 1./inging the main highway through Wlmkatane itself? Would it not be far mere conclusive to give our representative a die finite guide as to the will of the people of Wlmkatane of . this important- mater of route than;, to leave it open provided it did not interfere with the hospital ?