PROPOSED HIGHWAY

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 212, 26 July 1939, Page 3

PROPOSED HIGHWAY

THE “VOICE” OF WHAKAT AH E M MAKATANE A “CENT) HR FJ.I.A” “That this meeting representative of the citizens of Whakatane, in the absence of direct railway connection, would emphasise to the Government the urgent- need of the town and cli.sti ict for the provision of adequate 1 road 1 j communication, and tin that account would strongly recommend that the coastal road insofar as it is already proposed to pass through tile Borough, lie laid, so as to provide a bridge at a point as near as possible to the J hiper Mills, across the reclamation, along Quay Street, over the hills behind the Police Station and thence via Otarawairere Bay and Uhope to Upotiki. Further, that this meeting, in view ol the congested nature of the traffic during the summer from Whakatane to Ohope Beach via Hillerest, and with several fatalities of recent occurrence in nnncl, strongly recommends the Minister of Public Works, that the above route be put in hand as urgently as possible, in order to avoid a narrow and dangerous road, by providing a new and safer access to a growing and populous seaside resort." The above motions were passed unanimously by a meeting of fifty-two businessmen and citizens of Whakatane at a special public meeting convened by the Chamber of C ommerce lor tlic* purpose of discussing the route to be taken by the new coast mam highway, and giving voice to the opinion of the people ot the town. Several notes, bearing on the above were also passed for forwarding on to the Alain Highways Council. These read “This route would thus relieve the congestion on the present mam thorough lari' in the town and provide an additional ingress and egress, also a shorter route to the Paper Mills. This is a route which was suggested to the Minister of Public Works am his engineer and approved of by them, and later also hy the Director of’Town Planning. Air. Alawson. It would also overcome all previous objections I rum the hospital’s point of view and an\ other possible objection to tile roil to should it go via G<mlstone Roail past the school.”

As president, Air. B. AA'. Schofield, opened the meeting explaining that since the last meeting called to consider the proposal, and the very negative result, he had been urged by members of the executive to' c-;ili aiiotliei meeting to) allow a further expression of public opinion. .Most businessmen were of the opiiiioiii that the route should go through flic town but the instruction to the member for the district, Mr. Hultquist, a week or two ago, had been barren of any guidance whatsoever. He had been left in the air. He (.Alr.'Selioiield) Imped that the present meeting would give a unanimous and definite instruction to him. that Whakatane citizens desired the main highway through the town. Elaborating his motion, Mr. Canning said that although most ol the c itizens of Whakatane realised that the new route was under consideration by the P.W.D., they needed stirring up. They had the habit of going home at night, digging in hy the fire, and leading their papers. They lailed to realisel what important questions were being finalised. He sketched! briefly the trial surveys that had been made recently and stated that in every way the route to Ohope was the one that should be supported by all the* Wlmkatane residents, it would give close) access to Ohope Beach,' which was a coming suburb oil’ some importance to the town. There was a good and gradual grade, and though he understood the estimated dlifforenoo in cost to the Mnraetotara route, was something in the vicinity, of LJO.GGG, tin advaiitages to be obtained both by the department and the borough, more than offset, this. Whakatane had' been side-tracked too long, and lie felt that its people should now be prepared to work solidly to bring the lieu road through the town.

“Though J, Look very great care to state last meeting, that whatever the parochialism ol Whakatane was, my own personal parochialism extended to- the borders ol mv electorate’’ said' Mr. Multrpiist on being invited to address the meeting, “some person has seen fit to allege that 1 am watching the interests ol Whakatane to the detriment ol other parts ol the district I represent. The Fact that I live m Whakatane is incidental. and though I will say no, mere on the .subject- just now, I intend to have soma pretty straight talking to do in the

Duke Street.—A letter from tlie heafth inspector re Duke Street drain was discussed and it- was decided to leave the matter of co-operating with tin’ -County Council in the hands of the town clerk: Street Lighting.—A communication from the Power Board re improved street was briefly referred to, the council deciding to deal with the matter wlien*t-he rates are considered. River Ljrosion. —A letter in connection with.; thd* Otiira . river protection was received from the Public Works Department and an agreement was forwarded. f»r signature. . Councillors saidtlie work lug] to be done and would increase the rate by another third of a penny;—Oa the motion of CT. Johnson it was (locMeil_ to agree to the terms and the agreement was signed. .Licensing of Taxis.—The council decided to leave this question ay at nrotut.