A NEW ROAD?

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 14, 16 July 1931, Page 4

A NEW ROAD?

MANGAHAO TO EKETAHUNA-' ;'-.'■■■

(By Teloflraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") MASTEETON, This Day. Two undertakings suggested as a means of providing loliol" work were considered at a meeting of tlio Masterton Local Unemployment Committee last evening, at which Mr. J. C. Ewingtqn presided over a good attendance of members. - One of the works-mentioned was .1 road across.,the ranges ... from Mangahao to Ekotahuna. and. the other was' the Devil's, Elbow deviation r on the Mastcfton-Tiriui .road;'" Both^were1 supported,' but members';.of-the;committee were agreed, .that the Devil's Elbow deviation was much the more important project of the two from the point of view of the relief' of unemployment in the Wairarapa. ,

The secretary (Mr. J. E. ±f anlon) said that a letter had been received from the Shannon Unemployment Committee inviting the 'Masterton committee to support a project for the construction of six miles of road from Mangahao to Eketahuna, thus linking up the very important districts of Manawatu and Wairarapa. It was suggested that with this road available, the farming community would benefit by being able to attend sales, shows, and conferences which it was impracticable to attend at present. The transfer of stock between the two districts would be facilitated to the benefit of farmers ana stock agents. The proposed Toad would mean a great saving of time to the commercial man, and for the tourist it would provide a drive unapproaehed for scenic beauty. The road would facilitate a flow of "business between thn Manawatu and • Wairarapa districts which were at present isolated from oho another.' > The Masterton committee was asked to co-operate with the Shannon body in making representations to the Unemployment Board urging it to take up this work. It was suggested also that the committee should endeavour to enlist the support of local bodies, the Farmers' Union, stock agents, and the member for the district. Mr. E. Judd was of opinion that it would bo necessary to install camps and. do the work, with co-operative labour. There was no doubt that a road over the Mil would be a very fine thing, but probably • there would be engineering difficulties. Mr. lianlon ..said he had been informed that there was already a track along the. route of the proposed road, and that there wore no very great engineering difficulties.'. It would bo almost impossible, said Mr. J. W. A.' Walloon, to carry out this work under the present No. 5 scheme. Men doing only twi or-threo days' work at a time would have to be taken homo every night, or else camps would have to be fixed up. ;Even if they had camps, the men winild- have to be taken to their homes after two or three days. • . ■ Several speakers pressed the claims of the Devil's Elbow Deviation, and on the motion of Mr. S.Schoiield tho meeting decided that the Unemployment Board bo urged strongly to undertake this'work. It was agreed, however, to support the project of constructing a road from Mangahao to Eketahuna.