WAIKANAE-HUTT ROAD.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 28 March 1919, Page 3

WAIKANAE-HUTT ROAD.

S deputation to the minister. WORE TO BE COMPLETED. Qn Tuesday last Mr W. H. Field, M.P.. introduced a deputation comprising representatives of tho Hutt County Council and settlers of Akatarawa and Eikiorangi, to Sir William Eraser, Minister of Public Works, with the object of inducing the Government to complete for vehicle traffic the road betv.-ccn Waikanac and the Uppor Hutt. Mr G. A. Monk, chairman of the Horowhcnua County Council, sent an apology for his absence. Mr Field pointed out that a sum of about £3OOO had boon on tho Estimates f Ol . years for the completion of this, road, but that tho Government had not seen theu/way to authorise its expenditure during the war period. He explained that a very largo sum had been expended in years gone by in forming the road at both ends, but that there was still a length of rather more than three miles, on the Akatarawa side of the Saddle, requiring completion, and that until that was done the large sums already spent were, to some extent, wasted; for the real value of the road lay in its being a means of vehicle communication between the Hutt Valley and the Manawatu lino. The war being over, and there being probably returned soldiers, flaxmill men, and others who require employment, there should bo no difficulty in securing the necessary labour. Mr Field strongly urged that tho Government would at once invite labour to t complete this highly important work.- J Messrs <T. Whiteman '(chairman of i the Hutt County Council), Odlin, Part- J ridge, and Kent strongly urged th:-. v' there should bo no further dela/, as the road was a much needed one, and apart from its usefulness to settlers, would form a most charming round trip for motor ears from Wellington. The Minister replied that ho was quite willing to havo £ho road completed if tho\ necessary labour were available, and promised to publicly invite such labour at once. Ho explained, however, that he was not prepared to pay exorbitant wages, because the country could not afford it. In thanking the Minister, Mr Fiold also expressed tho wish that the Minister would givo instructions that none of the comparatively small areas of delightful bush which still romaiued along this track should be destroyed j beyond what was actually necessary 1 to cut down on the road lino itself, and j the Minister promised that this matter I should receive attention. !