HUTT ROAD BOMBSHELL?

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1924, Page 9

HUTT ROAD BOMBSHELL?

CO-OPERATION NEEDED,

10 THE EDITOR.

. Sir, —Every citizen, .who is concerned about the welfare of our city: aiid district, will view with alarm . any possibility of the Hutt.road extension scheme being- defeated. There-is unfortunately a tendency amongst; some-members of local■-bodies;. to..think that they are.the only ones concerned with the roads under their- jurisdiction, but it needs:.little thought to. realise that the - roads leading from the city into the country beyond/ over which the ... Hutt County Council and the Makara County Council have control, are just as much the necessity and concern of our citizens in Wellington, as they are of the residents who live in these .counties. In fact, .-good roads leading ,to the city are even more vital to us than they are to the farmer residents outside. ■■'-.••;

The Hutt County Council strides the roads which connect the city -to our hinterland, and by its action it can impede or advance the 'city's.: progress in no uncertain measure. The main roads leading from . here to .Paekakarikl,. the road to. the' Eimutakas and around the waterfront to Day's Bay/ besides- other roads, are a■: disgrace to our community. Especially does this apply to: the ; Maiia-: watu road from Johrisonville to Faekakariki and" that Jeading round to Dayfs Bay, and even a threat; to hold up-the permanent improvements of these roads will make^our citizens 'consider whether the time has not: arrived for some "drastic changei in. the constitution of local bodies who'have jurisdiction over them,, and have power" to stop progress. .In fact, it is. one more evidence ,that the time is long past. due. for an. amalgamation of many of these:sniall local, bodies.

The Hutfc road extension scheme offers these1 counties definite means, of permanently ipaving : certain roads at a >less' cost-than which they could be; paved, under, any other means., It provides .-■; the finance and -assures'-.thai the work will be done'in_a given time.T,lf this w.ork was done in conjunction with the Main Highways Board it would not apply to the Day's Bay road,'and Fain sure that tho citizens of • th'osa bays, besides the. hundreds of visitors who;motor: there, are not prepared to put up with the present state of'that road much-longer;' and, as regards the Main Highways Board, there does not appear any immediate hope of getting our- roads done: under their jurisdiction. . From every, viewpoint there is every!reason why tho public bodies having- jurisdiction over tho roads under review, should, join: to-, gether in carrying out this scheme, which will be one of the greatest booms to our city and. district of'modern times.. There aro' probably clauses in Oie Bill which, in tho- interest of the ' Hutt County Council and other outside bodies, should be altered or modified to suit them, as no one wishes to do an injustice to these bodies; rather the reverse, do we wish to help them;-'and if they will meet.next Monday in a spirit of reasonableness" and co-operation to carry Cut. a big national work, tho w;hole of their .'difficulties, will, be surmounted. Any withdrawal.-from the scheme .will, lam sure,.be opposed: to the wish of the great.majority of electors in the Hutt County.—l am, etc., L

PROGRESS.

9th September.