TRAVEL IN N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1937, Page 5

TRAVEL IN N.Z.

CONDITION OF ROADS. REPLY MADE TO CRITICS. COMMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) TIMARU, Tuesday. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, spent a busy day in South Canterbury to-day visiting Geraldine, Temuka and Timaru. He was accorded a civic reception at the two first-mentioned places, and later received a large number of deputations. The Minister received further deputations at Timaru to-night. In referring to the condition of the main highways, the Minister made the following statement: "Since the holiday season I have noticed in the Press several letters from correspondents, and general articles concerning the condition of main highways. Almost without exception these contributors allege that the roads traversed wera in shockingly bad order, and that, in the opinion of the writers, they had seldom experienced worse conditions. It is noteworthy that the complainants themselves have excluded paved highways from their adverse comment. From my observations the complaints are grossly exaggerated and unjustified, and I am bound to say that ;f the general condition of the main highways to-day is regarded as bad, the public have very short memories as to what conditions existed in the past. I have found that many holiday-seekers, who are accustomed to well graded and paved roads of easy alightment, fail to recognise that when on a holiday tour of several hundred miles in either island they must expect to travel over unsealed roads, and they cannot, or do not, adjust themselves to different travelling conditions. To one who is seldom off a paved road, the dust nuisance on a macadam surface is .certainly unpleasant and any unevenness in the surface or alignment does not improve the outlook of that particular class of traveller. It is manifestly unjust to condemn roads which are known to be in a satisfactory condition, simply because they are not paved. Our main highways are being extensively reconstructed to bring about better and safer travelling conditions, and while the vagaries of the traffic and the uncertainty of the weather at times might cause inexperienced motorists some little discomfort, I know that maiiy of the complaints which receive publicity are without tnerit. } have travelled extensively over the main highways in both islands, and have seen the conditions for myself, but if further testimony is required, I am aWe to remind critics of the praise offered gratuitously from overseas travellers on the high standard of our loading system, compared with the conditions in overseas countries much older than New Zealand."