ACCESS TO TAURANGA.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19902, 3 June 1936, Page 2

ACCESS TO TAURANGA.

ROAD OVII MOUNTAIN. EARLY START EXPECTED. (Times Representative.) TE AROHA, Monday. A certain amount of confusion as to the Government‘s intentions in regard to the proposed re-openlng of Thompson‘s Track is being experienced by the Pinko County Council. if widened and brought up to ordinary road standard this track over the Te Aroha Mountains would give direct access from the Waikato to Tauranga, effecting a considerable saving in miles and time to motorists generally while neatly facilitating the droving of stock to and from the coast. It is nearly 12 months since the County Council, ‘ln conjunction with neighbouring bodies at either end. sought to have reliet’ camps established for the prosecution or the work. can at £IOO,OOO. A letter recently received from the Minister of Public \Vorks, the Hon. R. Sempie, stated that since departmental reports showed tiiat the cost of the work would be approximately £IOO,OOO the situation did not Justify the expenditure of so large a sum. This letter. however. was almost immod—iately followed by a further communication trom the Minister stating that as a result of representations made by the member for Taurunga, .\lr (i. 11. Burnett. the project, was favourably viewed and that efforts would be made to provide for the work on next year‘s \stlmates. Unrusonlbly High. As to the tlgure of £IOO,OOO considerable surprise is cxpreqscd locally that the department‘s oltlcers should have estimated the neressary expenditure at that sum which is considered unreasonably high for the 9 miles or so of ronding construction im'olved. Since the proposed route presents no major problems of bridging or kindred work. it is considered by county members that A road or adequate standard could be provided for less than half the stated sum. “lONS 31'0 being made to arrange for an early iitsprction oi' the route b) the Minister and Ms. oillcers.