VALUE OF ROADS
IN SCHEME OF DEFENCE.
EMPHASISED BY HON R. SEMPLE
(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 25.
The importance of. a properlyplanned reading system was stressed by the Minister of Public Works, Mr Semple, when opening the new bridge over the Rakaia River today.
Mr Semple said that modern roads were not only necessary for transport in times of peace but formed an integral part of the national defence scheme. “Herr Hitler realised this before he began to dictate to the world.” added Mr Semple. “He built the best reading system the world has ever seen. Having accomplished that he commenced a plan for the expansion of Germany. England condemned her own reading system, and is now reconstructing it on the lines adopted by Hitler. We must also build roads for defence purposes in New Zealand. No scheme of defence can succeed these days if the reading system of a country is obsolete. In modern times we have to mobilise men and commodities quickly, safely and as cheaply as possible. That is where proper planning of the reading system begins.”
The Minister said that for manyyears the capital city of New Zealand had been suffering under the handicap of inadequate means of access. There was a higgledy-piggledy sort of road that served as a highway. Each bend had been baptised with blood of innocent persons. This menace was being overcome as quickly as possible. Wellington could not .be evacuated for days should a hostile force raid the capital and drop bombs, and a similar ghastly state of affairs would arise in time of an earthquake. Realising the gravity of the problem the Government determined to build a new modern highway leading in and out of Wellington. Under old methods this work would have taken seven years to complete, but with the mechanical aids now at. the . disposal of the Public Works Department Mr Semple said he had undertaken to complete the job in nine months. He was already ahead of schedule.
The Government was doing the maximum possible to make reading and bridging improvements that were essential to New Zealand's progress. '
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 March 1939, Page 6
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352VALUE OF ROADS Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 March 1939, Page 6
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