LEWIS PASS ROAD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20088, 18 November 1930, Page 13

LEWIS PASS ROAD.

■lO TIIF. r.DITOU OP THE I'PESS. Sir,—l vour Lssue of November loth that cessation oi this work hod been <leeided on, alio that the Canterbury Progress Leapruc and the Reefton pubJi'c are protesting against the closing down of the undertaking. I have been in the vicinity of this work for two months, and have? made every possible enquiry as to it« utility, with the remit that 1 ain utterly at a loss to find any reason why tho country should ever havo been committed to the heavy expenditure_ involved in the construction of some /5 miles oi road between Reefton and Hannipr Springs. The distance from Reefton to Christchurch. via Greymouth, by rail is approximately the snme as would be the distance by road, were the Lewis Pass road completed l'as.=enger and goods' traffic from Kneftoti to Christchurch is Ihe re fore sufficiently catered for by the existing railway connexion. In view of the hug© losses annually _ incurred on our railway system, which it is admitted, are due to competition oi> the roads, it seems inconceivable thai ;• ny attempt should be made to establish justification for further 'aggravation of tha financial position, sueli a.s would bo caused by tho construction of this proposed road between Heeftoa and Hamner Springs. It has 110 deielopment.il value whatsoevei. The country is not now, never was. and possibly never will be in the position to incur unremunerative and nonreproductive expenditure of thi, I nature. The work should never Jiavt! I

bten authorised, urnl the Government bas taken the right step in deciding to discontinue further operations.— \cuts. etc.. F. J. WILLIAMS. .November 17th, 1930.