CONCRETE ROADS AND BUSINESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 10, 13 January 1931, Page 6

CONCRETE ROADS AND BUSINESS.

The residents of the Howiek district have jubilated on the completion of a concrete road from the city to their township. Such a road will be a decided convenience for the settler, but I venture to say it will prove a bad thing for the business people of the township. Good roads to the city draw the country business from the suburban town. I have in mind one township in particular which experienced a ■setback three or four years ago when the main concrete road was finished, and has since shown no improvement, but rather languished, as evidenced by its empty shops. This township showed gradual growth before the road was finished, but since that time has gone back, because settlers who formerly supported it now roll into the city in a few minutes on a good road. Likewise, some on the North Shore are advocating a bridge across the Auckland Harbour. If ever that work becomes an accomplished fact, I 'believe the business men of the various towns across the harbour will regret the. day the bridge was opened. At present the residents are to a certain extent dependent on their local shops, but with easier facilities for getting goods the larger city firms will swoop down and capture the principal trade. UNCLE JIM.