MAIN HIGHWAYS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 95, 16 January 1929, Page 13

MAIN HIGHWAYS

Sir, —Coming up by service car from Wellington to Wanganui recently one could not but be struck by the difference in the way the Highways Board moneys were being expended by different local bodies. For instance, between I’ahautanui and Plimmertou the Hutt County Council has provided a splendid broad bituminised road, but in "The Dominion” of yesterday I notice that, not content with this, the council contemplates _ taking off the very easy corners that exist on the road. Then further up the line, according to the following cutting from a local paper, improvements are about to_ be made: — ‘‘Heavy machinery now being unloaded and assembled at the Feilding railway yards comprises the road-making plant of the company which has obtained the contract to lay ten miles of bitumen highway in the Manawatu. The work is to start almost immediately on. the Mount Stewart-Sanson section.” What strikes anyone travelling this way is the condition of the main road between Levin and the Whirokino bridge —one can only suppose that the County Council intend to keep this piece of road in its original condition as a horrible example of what the roads were before the Main Highways Act was passed by Mr. Coates. In addition to a shocking surface of loose river metal this piece of road is very narrow in parts and has several sharp corners that if they had existed on any other road but one controlled by the Horowhenua County Council would have beeu removed years ago. I was told by the driver that the inland' road was being improved first, so that the traffic might go through Palmerston North, and I wondered what the ratepayers of Horowhenua thought of that argument. If they approve they must be a “soft” lot of farmers.. Even if the council desires to keep this part, of the main road in its original condition for reasons of its own. whv should the sharp corners not be reduced? It seems a case whore the Government should interfere in the interest of public safety, and rnnny travellers hope it will do so —and soon.— I am, etc., , „ ~ A.B.C. Wanganui, January ,12.