ROADS TO WEST COAST.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 5 December 1930, Page 14

ROADS TO WEST COAST.

RIVAL CLAIMS. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PREFERENCE. Discussion on the rival claims of the roads of access to the West Coast was revived at last evening's meeting of the Council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce by letters from the Greymouth Automobile Association, asking support for the completion of the road from Springfield to Otira, and from the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce, urging that the Government should be impressed with the necessity of proceeding with the Lewis Pass road.

It was decided to reaffirm the previous decision of the Council contained in the following report of the Transport Committee, dated July 3rd, 1930: "After conferring with representatives of the Canterbury Progress League, and examining the report kindly supplied by the League, the committee is of opinion that the proposal for a road to the West Coast, via Lewis Saddle, merits ti;e sympathy of the Chamber, provided the construction shall in no way prejudice the maintenance, improvement, and completion of the present route via Otira Gorge, involving tho bridging of the Waimakariri river." Present Road Shorter. The Greymouth Automobile Association wrote asking the Chamber's support for the completion of the main West Coast road frcm Springfield to Otira by having a bridge placed over the Waimakariri. This would bring tho Coast within five or six hours of Christchurch. The Association considered this work much more important than the opening of a new road, which would not benefit the Coast. The present road was practically 100 miles shorter than nny other route, and should receive the first attention of the Government. Asking the Chamber's assistance in urging on tho Government the necessity for completing the Lewis Pass road, the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce wrote: — "You are doubtless aware that this important work has been stopped by the Government. It was undertaken for the purpose of unemployment relief, but at the same time it is an essential work, and should have been taken in hand many years ago, as undoubtedly it is one of the most practicable connexions of the South Island since it links up Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, and the West Coast. Difficulties of Bridging. "We have noticed for some time that you have been consistent in your report of the coastal road, via the Waimakariri and we have appreciated your loyalty, but, at the same time, we would point out that the Lewis Pass road offers an opportunity of finding employment for unskilled labour, and is one of the arterial roads of the Sonth Island. On the other hand, to make the Waimakariri safe for traffic it would require almost the whole of the streams to be bridged since what is a creek during normal weather is a mountain torrent after heavy rain. I.i the event cf wash-outs on the railways, there is no doubt but that the road would be affected, whereas the Lewis Pass road would be available in practically any weather. For motor traffic the altituds is much lower, and there are not so many gorges to pass through. "We do not wish to discount the Waimakariri road, but at the present timo it is not a good policy for the Government to shut down work which is of national importance and which is essential if they are in a position to carry the work on, as it finds employment for men in developing the country. We have approached the Minister for Public Works on the matter, and have been advised that it is receiving consideration, but as the West Coast and Canterbury are linked together in so many ways, we would appreciate your Chamber's co-operation in urging on the Government the necessity for this work." The acting-president (Mr A. O. Wilkinson) said that the question had already been discussed by the Chamber's Transport Committee, whose ruling was that the Waimakariri should bo bridged. Proposals Not in Conflict.

Mr W. R. Carey thought the Greymouth Automobile Association's contention that "the present road was practically 100 miles shorter than any other route'' was a slight overstatement. While the Canterbury Automobile Association felt that the Waimakariri should be bridged, it realised that the Lewis Pass road was the only work of magnitude undertaken by the Public Works Department in the South Island, and thought it unwise that men should be put off it while North Island works were continued. The Association had supported the Pass road, making some demur when it was stopped. The two proposals, he submitted, were entirely different and not in conflict. The Chamber could lend itself to both.

Mr Wilkinson: It has already done so, but it has given preference to the bridge.