NEW HIGHWAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 32, 5 July 1939, Page 5

NEW HIGHWAY

. -—p-r- O OPOTIKI'S CASE OUTLINED URGENT WORK IN THAT A&.EA Some further interesting comments on the proposed Opotiki.Whakatane highway are contained in. a leading article in Monday's Opotiki News which again questions the need for a new road via Whakatane, and stresses the Opotiki County's, claims to highway reconstruction and sealing. In the last six years the News says that the total amount of money, including subsidies spent in the Opa. tiki County was £14,671 as against the Whakatane County figures of £161,760. The News agrees that an analysis of the figures would perhaps show that Opotiki was not as badly j treated as would at first appear, for j it must be remembered that a great deal of work was done on the Rotoma Hill. The BEACON may here point .out that it understands that other large sums w T ere spent on the Waikaremoana scenic highway, which i.s about as much benefit to the farmers, business people and Whakatane folk generally as, the recent extensive roading work in the Wellington province. ''What the Opotiki people do not like about the expenditure for the current year is that the sum of £25740 is being expended on highways in close proximity to the Whakatane borough, while the highways close to Opotiki borough are apparently to remain in their present state for a further indefinite period. No one begrudges the work scheduled for the Whakatane highways, as this has been overdue, but the question people are asking, is w r hy is Opotiki being left out?" adds the News, which continues that though £50.000 is to be spent on the Opptiki-Te Araroa highway, this is largely a scenic road, and of little benefit to Opotiki. The News continues by advocating the sealing of the Opotiki-Taneatua and Opotiki-Matavvai stretches, If only because.of /the effect on the pastures of tlie dust raised by the thousands of head of stock Avhich travel them. CRITICISM OF MEMBER. , In reference to its allegedly /unfair criticism of Mr A. G. Hulttffuist, M.P it maintains that Mr Hultqulst, by reason of his advocacy of the Wainui road route between • Opotiki and Whakatane. has not been, able to give Opotiki's claims for the improvements to the existing highway tlie attention they deserve, the proof being the lack of substantial improvement. The News denies hints'that it criticised Mr Hultquist in any general sense, and pays' tribute to nis energy and ability, "Whakatane makes no secret that the whole idea at the back of a newhighway is to endeavour to encourage travellers to stop at Whakatane and put the town on the map," continues the News, when discussing the Maraetotara Gorge route vi a Wainui which it says, would mean a saving of only about ten miles. The News repeats that those travelling to Rotorua from Opotiki can now save at least eight miles by travelling across the Plains bv the White Pine Bush route, and that this is now favoured by nearly all travellers. Direct traffic between Opotiki and Whakatane is very small indeed, and other traffic, including service cars, would continue to use the existing highway. ONLY FOR TOURISTS The News contends that there* i* not the slightest justification for the expenditure of a' large sum on the route via Ohiwa, which at the most can only be of benefit to tourists. The existing Wainui road could be improved cheaply and this would be available to any one wishing to travel via Ohope under good conditions. Referring to the route to Tauranga the News says that, compared with the shortest route now available, the distance saved by the new road would be under 20 miles, and it points out that the existing OpotikiTaneatua highwpv can be shortened by nearly two miles. It approves the suggestion for the erection of a bridge over the Tauranga harbour. It savs that the statement supposed to have been made by the Hon. R. Sempie that ; failing a road over Ohiwa harbour, a route would be found inland, is incorrect. After traveiling over the Wainui route Mr Semple said he would not spend sixpence on the road and that he had instructed his engineers to prospect for a direct route along the coast via Ohiwa. He promised Wainui settlers

■ that a route avoulcl be found to connect Avith this main highway. ANOTHER ALLEGATION. ''Mr Hultquist strongly supported the Wainui route Avhich Avas so strongly condemned by Mr Semple. The Wainui route Avas also supported by a number of Cabinet minister's brought to the district by Mr Hult_ quist. AA 7 ho arranged the itineraries so thjit these minister? all traA-elled OA T er the present highway during darkness and thus got the worst possible impressiou of thq TaneatuaOpotiki section," alleges the NeAVS. "It appears to be fairly certain that in the event of a neAV higlnvay being constructed, it Avill not pas" directly through the Whakatane borough, and this is the accepted practice in, country to.day, the object being to by-pass the traffic and do aAA-ay Avith any likelihood of con. gestion in the street," the article ends. "The Maraetotara route avUI not please some of the Whakatane people, but Opotiki is in practically the same position ?-s traffic only needs to skirt the residential area here on the route between Whakatane and Gisborne."