ROAD HAZARDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 277, 22 November 1934, Page 5

ROAD HAZARDS.

GISBORNE TO OPOTIKI.

SCENIC ROUTE HAMPERED. COMPLETION HELD UP. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) GISBORNE, this day. Previous efforts on the part of the Government to expedite the completion of the new scenic railway round East Cape from Gisborne to Opotiki are apparently not to be maintained, the Minister of Public Works having advised the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce that the road, must wait its turn with other similar works until at least next year.

The chamber had expected that the road would be open for general use by last Easter, but since then the position, instead of improving, has become gradually worse. The chamber wrote pointing out the position to. the Minister and urging that funds should be made available for the completion of the road, but Mr. Bitchener stated in reply that the question had already bj2en carefully considered and it had been decided, in view of the limited amount of money available, and the greater urgency of the work of serving settlers who were without access that the money could not be spared for this purpose. "It is possible that if the improvement in financial conditions which has been noticeable during the past few months continues," adds the Minister, "the Government may be able next year to extend activities and develop proposals such as the one under discussion." The Automobile Association's patrol who returned yesterday from a visit to the Bay of Plenty coast, reports that his experience convinced him that in the present circumstances the journey should not be attempted by the average motorist.