THE WHIROKINO ROAD.

Shannon News, 4 September 1923, Page 3

THE WHIROKINO ROAD.

What is considered to be one of the worst pieces of arterial ro'ad on this coast traverses a floating surface lor about two miles between Foxton and the Whirokino bridge. It is a source of considerable trouble to the .Manawatu County Council, and absorbs considerable expenditure. The County Council advises a deviation of the road to higher ground. The Minister of Public Works was invited to inspect' the road with a view to obtaining a Government grant., but wlas unable to do so. Application was made for a grant, and disappointment wa,s expressed that nothing appeared on the Estimates, although the Horowhenua County Council were granted assistance for" bridges, and the Hutt County Council'.for the Paekakariki hill. Application was made to the member for the district- to apply for a grant on the Supplementary Estimates for this extraordinary" work. In reply, Mr Linkliater stated that the Minister is firmly of the opinion that the road should be deviated, and the Government would substantially assist in this work. Mr Linklater is pressing for something more definite.

In discussing this matter with Sir James Wilson (chairman of t|he Manawatu County Council) the latter stated “he thought h© was expressing, the opinion of the Council in the.view that the road should be deviated, hut that finance stopped the way. It was estimated-thait it would cost some £3,000. Having had frequent occasion to acknowledge the wisdom of the advice ‘not to put faith in promises,’ 1 thought it would be as well to ascertain definitely what the Minister meant by ‘substantially’ for the matter largely hinged upon his interpretation. I therefor© wired hack to Mr Linklater, intimating that the present road would have to be kept open to. give settlers access, but that if the main traffic- were diverted to another road the access road would not take much *uipkeep, as the traffic would be light, and I suggested he should ask the Minister to grant £250 to assist, in temporarily putting the road in order, and contribute on the £ for £ system up to £ISOO for the deviation. I felt sure if he could get- this agreed to, Mr Barber, the memlbier for the riding, would gfive the ratepayers the opportunity of voting for a loan for the other £ISOO though possibly a Commission would adjudicate upon the proportion the different local bodies would contribute. The ntatter is, now in ‘the lap of the gods.’ and I hope Mr Linklate,r’s efforts will be successful in inducing the Minister to look favourably on the grant. It would take almost the whole rates in the riding to put, and keep this short stretch in proper order, and it is very little used by the people who have to pay for it. If the Minister will help ‘substantially,’ I am sure the best thing, and the’ cheapest in the end, would be to deviate the road as has been suggested.”