ROADS NORTH AND SOUTH

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 54, 28 January 1953, Page 4

ROADS NORTH AND SOUTH

'jpHE progrfimjtte of road works north and sonth from Taupo, outiined in the official statement as published in the daily press, and reprinted in pairt in the Taupo Times last week, should give a measure of satisfaction to the Taupo community. As emphasised in previous comments on the subject, the Taupo Country has1 entered upon a new era of development and progress. Timber and farming* seem likely to become staple industries of growing importanee with the development of atforestation and the opening up of new areas for sheep and dairy farms. The tourist with our scenic attractions and sport for anglers should show a steady increase. Allied to these developments is the necessity for first-class rnain highways .north and south from Taupo. It is alsready evident that the steady improvement of these highways an.d the easier and speedier access to Taupo have had an accelerating effect upon the progress of this district. Looking back to an earlier day it must be difficult for older residents of Taupo to realise that it is now possible to leave Wellington at 8 a.in. and arrive shortly before 5 p.m. The steady improvement of the Desart Road has made that possible. Similarly, the improvement of the highway to the. north has made the, journey. from Auckland c orrespohdingly less prolonged and arduous. As pointed out in the official statement of the Chairman of the Main Highways Board (Mr Trevor Smith), there is still much to be done on the Atiamuri route from Putaruru to Taupo, a considerable stretch of which it is frankly admitted is "substandard." Certain questions related to the development of the geo-ther-mal regioii for the geperating of electricity have to be sottled, however, before a final decision can he made in regard to the re-irouting of this highway^which is shorter than the Rotorua route from Auckland,

i iiiwimiih— ^ ^ gi and is likely to be shortened even more when the Putaruru Road has been reformed on this side of Aratimuri. . For this reason the early completion of the sealing of the highway firom Rotorua to Taupo is satisfactory. Quicker ransport over this route- compensates for the slower rate of progress necessitated by the state of the Atiamuri Road. In regard to all roading problems it is also satisfactory to note that the Central Department is pioeeediug- in ; a spirit of co-operation with the local authorities in association with the District Highways Councils. In the latest annual report of the Main Highways Board, presented to Parliament last session, noted that "the practiee of individual District Highway Councils of undertaking inspections of their particular highway districts is proving* most successful and members of such Councils are obtaining a first-hand knowledge of their districts, which proves invaluable whpn annual estimates and works programmes are being considered. The personal contacts made during such inspections are also of distinct advantage." Very good. If this commendable spirit of co-opera-tion will result in some of Taupo's arterlal roads — such as the Spa and Rifle Range Roads— -being* given early attention, so much the better.