PLIMMERTON TRAFFIC BRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 73, 30 March 1929, Page 8

PLIMMERTON TRAFFIC BRIDGE

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —May I be permitted to add a little to the agitation at present proceeding to obtain this much-needed improvement? It is unnecessary to go' over all the old ground that has been traversed so often in regard to shortening route, etc. My object is to stress a point which does not yet appear to have been sufficiently stressed by former writers. The great difficulty in. obtaining the desired improvement lies in the fact that at present ratepayers at Plimmorton are taxed to the uttermost, and will not welcome, a further addition to the burden. Tho bridge will not be such a great advantage to Plinimerton. residents as to tho motorists of Wellington, who should take up the agitation and seek Government assistance to achiovo the desired object. I understand a poll of ratepayers will shortly be taken by the local authority, n.utl if the Government would contribute substantially and thus reduce the ratepayers' liability, the bridge would soon be an accomplished fact. Lot the Automobile Association take tho matter up in earnest, and show tho ratepayers that they will not have to bear the full brunt, and the result of such poll will, I am sure, be a foregone conclusion. — I am, etc., BMDGIT.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —There is, in my opinion, good cause for the agitation to have for Pliinmerton a road more direct than tho existing one.

The great obstacle is, apparently, the cost of the traffic bridge that would be entaili- cd. Now, Sir, this obstacle is more apparent than real. Before explaining why it is necessary to refer to, existing conditions.' What are the facts concerning the road to-day, quite apart from its in-

ordinate length? It is, after leaving the highway at Pahautanui, a very indifferent road. There are few places in its whole length where vehicles can pass <;oinfortnbly. Recently I had occasion to use it, when, to allow another vehicle to pass, we had practically to ditch the off-side wheels and wait. What a commentary on a "modern" road! What does this imply? Why, that, failing the adoption of another route, a huge expenditure must ba incurred to put it into a condition suitable to the growing requirements of the present day. It is certain that sooner of later those requirements must be met. A; considerable length of this narrow road crosses the head of the bay, where during high tides it is lapped on both sides by the sen. To construct this portion to Ihe necessary widtli would be a very 'lastly job. There is neither rock nor spoil at hand. Now, to come to tho point: Jf the suggested new short route were adopted, the otherwise impending and imperative expenditure by the Hntt Comity Council on the existing road would equal a sub-

stantial portion (if not the whole) of its share of the cost of the new road; for the Highways Board, realising-tho rational possibilities of such new route, would be justified in treating it, ut least, as a subsidiary highway. That would mean, I understand, that for the construction of the road the County Council would have to find only half the cost, while, as to tho bridge, judging by precedent, the board would treat the council very liberally, even perhaps to the extent of a free grant (if all the logical factors are brought to bear). This all depends upon the Hutt County Council becoming seized of the importance of two points—first, the imperative necessity for tho very best road communication to meet requirements of traffic development; and, secondly, the necessity of securing the co-operation of tho Highways Board. This matter needs a broad vision. It would be a great mistake to tinker with what must always bo an unsatisfactory road, if by a bold policy something infinitely more satisfactory to all parties can be secured. It should be remembered that beauty spots and health resorts no longer belong almost exclusively to the local population, but to the community at large, a fact which is having a wider application with the development of motor transport, and this extension of community interest is behind the genesis of the Highways Board. Those more vitally concerned in l'iimmerton's progress should confer with the Hutt County Council with a view to having the position laid before the Highways Board. That board now has accumulating funds with which to deal adequately with the needs of transport communication such as that under notice.—l am, etc.,

TLEBIAN

(To tho Editor.)

Sir,— ln reference to the agitation going on at present iv the "Evening Tost" iv connection with the proposed bridge to cross Paremata Estuary, 1 think i can detect n similarity of grammar iv the letters of "Progress," "Hopeful," and

"Civis" in their attempts to boost the above proposal. Not one of them will come out iv the light and sign his own name so the public could judge for themselves whether the above boost is genuine or the inspiration of big vested interests in land. The people and ratepayers of Plimmerton as a whole are not absolutely clamouring for this expenditure of public money. In the letter of "Civis" on the subject he advocates continuing the road through to Plimmerton down the valley from near Pukerua Bay instead of having to go around via "Karehana Bay." Is. not "Civis" satisfied with having had well over £3000 of public money expended to improve one part of the district? The route of the Karehana Bay road'to Plimmerton from Pukerua Bay is not dan-, gerous by any means. The present road from Paliautanui to Plimmerton is quite safe, and the bad corners have just: recently been widened and greatly improved by the Hutt County Council. The mere fact that a shorter route via Paremata to Plimmerton is possible is not going to make Plimmerton a big suburb, for the train service is fairly good and cheap. The only persons to derive any benefit. from the above bridge and road are the outside motorists who would not contribute anything to its maintenance; tho people of Plimmerton would have to shoulder this burden with very little recompense; there are not twenty motor-cars in Plimmerton. What Plimmerton wants before this road is a water supply, which is badly required. If the Government has any money to expend ou roads and bridges to give employment to the workless lot it expend it on something more urgently required, such as giving the settlers in some isolated backblocks better access to their holdings. I have known Plimmerton and adjacent districts for a lifetime, and the access to it is not at all bad compared with other places. The .Government and Highways' Board have definitely laid it down not to open up roads running parallel with the railways, as by doing so they are diminishing the revenue of the railways in which some sixty millions is invested. Can you blame the Government for so doing? The rates of Plimmerton township at present are very high, and if tho maintenance of tin's proposed road and bridge are going to bo an added burden of rates on the people of this place I for one would not be a party to bringing it to fruition. All who have written on this subject so far, with the exception of one, have not signed their names, so I am entitled to do the same and shelter under a nom-de-plume.—l am, etc.,

PLIMMERTON RATEPAYER,