Links with the West Coast

Press, 7 May 1980, Page 18

Links with the West Coast

Sir, — I agree with P. K. Matheson (May 3) that successive Governments have neglected unduly one major national asset, the railways, and could well be neglecting another major national asset, the West Coast: I seek debate, not division. Geologically, the Otira Gorge is a mess and consequently _ a very difficult and expensive engineering problem. Therefore, to accommodate the approximately 350 to 400 West Coasters and Cantabrians driving per day through the Otira Gorge it is sensible to make full use of the rail facility and establish a shuttle service. In fact, why not rail cars and their drivers from Christchurch to Greymouth (or vice versa) for the cost of their oil and petrol? Furthermore, in order to preserve the tourist attraction of Otira Gorge, why not end the road at Death’s Corner, and perhaps a few kilometres south of Otira, and thus turn the Otira Gorge into a double-ended tourist trap, second only to Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers? — Yours, etc., R. H. FINDLAY; May 3, 1980;