NEW STOCK ROUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 159, 8 July 1935, Page 9

NEW STOCK ROUTE.

POVERTY BAY TO TANEATUA.

SHEEPOWNERS' SUGGESTION. (By Telegraph.—Own"~Correspondent.) GISBORNE, this day. The long standing controversy regarding a stock route between Poverty Bay and the Bay of Plenty may be settled if a proposal which has Been made by the Sheepowners' Union is adopted. At pi - esent drovers are compelled by the Highways Board to use the Motu Road, thus leaving the Waioeka route clear for motor traffic, but it is contended that the Motu route is unsuitable on account of shortage of feed and water, in consequence of which some owners have defied regulations and invited prosecution by using the Waioeka route. The suggestion was made to a meeting of the Sheepowners' Union on Saturday that an alternative route could be obtained along the road from Matawai to Tewera, thence taking the Moanui Road into the fringe of the Urewera Country and coming out on the Waimana River and following the formed road to Taneatua. To make the use of this outlet' possible it would be necessary to form ten miles of an ei<rht-foot stock track to bridge the existing gap, but the distance would be considerably reduced and summer road congestion would be relieved. Contending that since there was no rail connection farmers were entitled to a pood stock route to the Waikato the meeting decided to request the Government to have the proposed route surveyed.