MOKAU SPANNED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 231, 19 December 1927, Page 7

MOKAU SPANNED

NEW BRIDGE OFFICIALLY OPENED GOVERNMENT’S HIGHWAY POLICY (Special to TUB SUN. I TE KtJITI, To-day. THE recently-erected bridge over the Mokau River, a bridge which will complete the link which connects Auckland with Taranaki, was opened by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, on Saturday, when there was a memorable gathering of representatives of both provinces. Mr. Coates, under whose regime, as Minister of Public Works, the structure was erected, said the bridge had been built within the estimate of £35,000. This was one of many works that , had to be done, but it was only by support of the people, that more could be done. Public works could not go ahead without borrowing. “The bridge meant a shortening of : the time spent in crossing the river by half an hour and sometimes an hour. The next important phase of the roading policy of the country was to get feeder roads to the main highways and to the railways. It was a mighty task, but the giving of access to the settlers in the back country was a busi- ; ness-like and sensible policy. The ! settlers could not be expected to bear the whole of the cost themselves and since th© primary was the principal , industry of the Dominion, it was the duty of everyone to see how much the farmers’ load could be lightened. . The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. K. S. Williams, promised consideration after the holidays to the

question of providing road communication to the Upper Mokau. Mrs. Williams then cut the rihbon and Mr. Coates declared the bridge open. Cheers were given for Mrs. Williams and the Ministers. The visitors were subsequently the guests of the Awakino and Mokau Settlers’ Association at luncheon in the Awakino Hall.