ROAD AND RAHWAY DEVIATION.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 25 August 1920, Page 3

ROAD AND RAHWAY DEVIATION.

PAEKAKARIKI AND PUKERUA HILLS.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS. On Monday afternoon a big deputation-, organised by the Progress League, waited on the Prime Minister (Minister for Railways) and the Hon. Mr Coates (Minister for Public Works) respecting the proposed new road between Plimmerton and Paekakariki and the deviation of the railway fine between these points. The deputation was introduced by Mr IV. H. Field, member for Otaki, and consisted of some twenty to twentylive members, including the following: —Messrs W. J. Howell (Hutt County Council)-, G. A. Monk (Horowhenua County Council), D. M. Mathcson (Levin Borough Council), Haswell (Levin Chamber of Commerce), Frank I’enn (Otaki Town Board), Bryant (Foxton Borough Council), and representatives of various bodies in Wellington. Several members of Parliament representing districts on the 1 West Coasl. of the North Island were j also present. ■ ! Mr W. 11. Field, M.P., said the ob- ! ject of the deputation was to obtain \ the views of the Government as to 1 when the Paekakariki railway devia- | lion was likely to be commenced. The j idea wia to direct the railway round j the coast from Pukerua and from 1 there use the present track for a road. J That would save a road climb of tiOOOft « and 41 miles of dislauce. The existing J road over the Paekakariki Hill was | dangerous, and in places was little j more than a rough bush track —not the j kind of thoroughfare that should con- ■ neet the Manawatu with Wellington, i When would the deviation of the rail- [ way be made? The chief reason for } asking was that the main road over l the hill was dangerous, had been the J scene of many accidents, and, as the j traffic 'increased the risk grew. They i understood that when tho railway was j deviated the present railway track j would be, available as a road. They 5 thought that if the deviation was not 6 to be done soon a big expenditure J would have to be made on the present i road and provision ought to be made I for a road up the valley to Pukerua I and tlienco round the beach. Many I ladies he knew were afraid to travel over tho Paekakariki Hill, and some experienced motorists who had nearly met with accidents on the hill road had almost, lost their nerve. The motorists’ organisations reckoned a good road would be such a saving to l hem that they had offered to make a big contribution to the cost hal 1 offered to contribute the whole of the interest and sinking fund. If labour was short the bodies the deputation represented would help to provide it. Mr Monk (Horowhenua Countv Council) said the road over the Paekakariki Hill could never be a national arterial road. As to the railway, an important, point was that the present railway to Paekakariki could never be duplicated. He represented a closelysettled district which was practically cut off from Wellington by the hill road. Mr G. Mitchell. M.P., Dr. Newman. M.P., and Messrs W. J. Howell and C. M. Banks (Wellington Motor Association) also spoke. Mr Massey agreed that the road was bad, and said that it, with others would have to be taken in hand when the Government had the labour and money to do the work. Ho promised that the work would be commenced as soon ns possible, but. he could not fix the date. There were a number of liues of railway approaching completion. and it would be simple folly to undertake any more works ol importaaec until some of these lines were out j of hand. Surveys had been made for • the West Coast lines, and the author isation had been given. All that they were waiting for were the men and the materials. As soon as the labour could bo obtained at a reasonable rate the work would be undertaken. A member of the deputation: “Supposing we can find the labour foe youi ,> Mr Massey: “You can get. the labour only by taking the men away from some other works or local body which needs them just as badly.” He added that the Government, could em- | ploy 5000 more men on public works i if they could get them. * The Minister for Public Works said j he thought it would be found that the s motor tax would be fully absorbed by , the main roads. As far as labour j went there was a great deal of new , country that wanted opening ap, ami if the deputation could send any labour ■ along the Government could do with it. He though the question largely a matter of calculation for the Railway Department. If they were losing a . lot of money by pulling stuff over the j hill, no doubt, they would think about a change. Mr Massey was asked bv another speaker if, "in the event of delay, a grant to improve the present hill road would be made. Mr Massey: We are quite willing to consider that. Mr Coates: It is recognised the present road is only temporary. Mr Field thanked Ministers for receiving the deputation, and he observed that the district he represente-3 could carry ten times the population it now had. The only thing sticking them up was the railway service and the miserable road. j