HON. J. G. COATES

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17061, 4 February 1921, Page 6

HON. J. G. COATES

VISIT. TO SOUTH CANTERBURY. BRIDGE OVER SELWTN SUGGESTED. , In continuation of his inspection of tho Canterbury Province, the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public "Works, left Christchurch yesterday, and motored south. He was accompanied by Messrs F. "W. Furkert, Engineer-in-Chie?, L. Birks, Electrical Engineer to tile Publio "Works Department, and F. and J. Simpson, Public "Works Department engineers. Tho party stopped to inspect tho site of a proposed bridge on tho Main bouth road to cross the river Selwyn. The Minister was there met by the Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes, member for the Ellesmere district, who introduced tho members of a deputation, consisting of Messrs F. W. Johnston, chairman of the iboutb Island Motor Union, J?. Macartney, J. S. Hawtos, and A. S. Clarkson, of tho Canterbury Automobile_ Association; John Cunningham, chairman of the Ellesmere County Council: John Thompson, chairman of the Springs County Council; and F> J. Andrew, chairman of tho iSeiwyn County Council. Mr R. Macartney said tliat his association was using every endeavour to get a good road fit for use by all cars. _ The Selwyn constituted an obstruction, and was tho biggest blot on the road between Christchurch and Dunedin. Ho stressed tho point that it was people outside the contiguous counties who used tho road most • ex-_ tensively. The heavy traffic that had gone over the road recently had. caused a lot of damage to it. Apparently, ho said, no one liad the money to spend on fixing tho road or building the necessary bridge at the fording. He suggested that some other authority should lie given control of the road, only that body should be subsidised out of the Consolidated Fund, apart from what it would receive from county councils, a tyro tax. etc. He contended that a light bridge would meet tho case, and at tho end of, say, twenty s*ears, a concrete bridge could be constructed. far as the Automobile Association was concerned, a bridgo casting about £4OOO to £SOOO -would give satisfaction. Mr Johnston said that tho matter was one of great importance to many people living outside Christchurch. The day of tho old idea of the Government not needing to concern itself about the etate of the roads beside •which a rail-way line ran has gone, because the conditions of transportation had altered so much. An aerial post was now an established fact, and better facilities for road travelling were necessary, so that business people who wanted to come to Christchuroh from, say, Invercargill, could do eo more rapidly by motor than the time now occupied by tho train. The road on which those present -we're standing ran on the outskirts of several counties. The Minister (smilingly): This is the baekblocks of Canterbury 1 Mr Johnston: The middle-blocks, anyway. Proceeding, Mr Johnston said that the road,' being without curves and bends, would be easy of maintenance. As the work was of such /importance he hoped it,would be undertaken before the, setting up of the proposed Dominion Road Board. In connexion with the subiect he had just alluded lie hoped that two sucji boards would be set up—one for the North Island and one for tbe South—with the same Government representatives on each. He also hoped that motorists -would be given representation on the boards, and that the opportunity * would be given ,of seeing the terms of the proposed Bill before "It was • submitted to the House. Mr J. Cunningham said that, when the river was unfordable, the Eflesmero bridge, which added just over seven miles to the journey, had to be used. The Ellesmere County had to 1 bear four-:iifths of the cost of tho bridge, although cars from outside the counties used it to a great extent. A computation taken recently shoved that out of over 600 cars crossing the river only 42 belonged to people in the contiguous counties. After traversing the history of the negotiations in connexion with the proposed bridge, he asked that the Government offer of a £3 to £1 subsidy should be renewed. Mr Macartney said that, although the motoring people did not want to start the bunding of the bridge, still, if no one else would do so, they were prepared to take tbe initiative. In reply the Minister said that as the road was to be a main arterial road he could not see that it-would be wise to construct a light bridge over the ford for present use, and build a heavier bridge at a later date. It was no use to take two bites at a cheery. He pointed out that the tendency was at present for a falling market. Steel was dropping in price, and so, too, was cement. was the work suggested of such importance that it could not wait for a year? He would see into the drafting of the Bui on his return to Wellington; meanwhile he was endeavouring to see what was required. The terms of thfc Bill would be circulated to local bodies before going to Parliament. He thought that the local bodies affected should set up a commission in connexion with tbe bridge. Personally, he was in favour of a concrete structure. Mr Macartney said* it was felt that any deviation from a light bridge would mean that no bridge would be got at all, and the money spent on tho road instead. The Minister promised to consider the question of buildinz a light bridge, and also of renewing the original offer concerning the £3 f6r £1 subsidy. Mr F. J. jfndrew asked that assistance should be given for the maintenance of the road running between Dunsandel and Rakaia, on tho southern side of the railway line. He also pomplained of' the treatment of the county by the Public Works Department concerning the road leading . to Lake Coleridge. The Department, he said, took over the road, and guaranteed that, after the heavy traffic that went over it, they would hand it back in good condition. This, said Mr Andrew, had not been done. The county engineer estimated that it would take £BOO to get the road back to its original state. The Department bad offered .the county £2OO, which, was ridiculous, and therefore not accepted. He contended that the Government had a moral in the matter. The -Minister aid that he agreed that the roads should bo replaced. He would look into both matters. Subsequently the Ministerial party left for Ashburton. ASHBURTON WANTS. Tho Hon. J. G. Coates and his party arrived at Ashburton at 11.45 a.m. yesterday, and proceeded to the County Council Chambers, -where Mr Coate3 was received by members of the Council, to discuss matters in connexion with the erection of a traffic bridge at Blowing Point, across tho south branch of the Asnburton river, about 40 miles above Ashburton. Tho chairman of tho Council (Mr C. lleid) pointed out to tho Minister that it would be necessary for him to pay a personal visit of inspection to tho locality in order to form an idea for the urgent necessity, of the bridge. This the Minister immediately agreed to do, and arrangements were made for members of tho Council to meet him at the Arundel bridge on Saturday, February 19th, and proceed with him through the Mayfield and Mount Womera districts, and from thence up the Ashburton Gorge to Blowing Point. After a stop, of about ten minutes at the- Council Chambers -Mr J. G. Coates and his party left for GeralI dine.

(PBESS ASSOCIATION TKUtSKUI.) TIMARU, February a The Hon. J. G. Ooates, Minister cf Public Works, spent a few each in Geraldine, Temuka, and Tunwjj to-day on his way south. At "Geraldino tie received a dejAutjjg, from the County Council on the qwn. tion of the Rangitata river control, aas from the Geraldine Railway League. He eaHed at the Washdyfa aerodrome, and ?iad a flight ore? Timaru. After receiving a weltxane at Timaru. he went on to Waimate. To-morrow ho will inspect the Ttiln, Downs railway extension, and wifl visit tho Upper Waitaki, where h fj considered electricity supply can fc* obtained.