MAIN HIGHWAY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21187, 9 August 1940, Page 7

MAIN HIGHWAY

EAST COAST PROPOSAL RECEPTION BY MINISTER RAILWAY OUT OF QUESTION (By Telegraph.—special to Times) WHAKATANE, Thursday The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, visited Whakatane today, accompanied by Mr J. Wood, Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, and Mr R. H. P. Ronayne, district engineer at Tauranga. One of the deputations heard by Mr Semple urged the construction oC an east coast main highway, suggesting that it be brought to the town via a new bridge over the Whakatane River in the vicinity of the paper mills. From there it would run through the town and reach Ohope by way of a coastal road over the hills behind the police station and along the Otawairere foreshore, whence it would continue to Opotiki and down to Gisborne. The defence value of such a highway was emphasised by the speakers, who also pointed out that road access to Otawairere Bay would provide a point for loading and unloading deep-sea vessels. The Minister said the cost of the railway extension from Taneatua would be £1,250,000. “ This makes it out of the question now,” said Mr Semple, “ for apart from the finance required there is no material available and we are not going to jeopardise in the slightest degree the requirements of the Old Country. The road would cost-under £300,000 and material does not come into it.” Mr Semple said the highway was within the bounds of probability. He considered a modem highway more of an asset than a railway, the proposal for which he hoped would fade into oblivion.