A DANGEROUS ROAD

Evening Post, Issue 20, 23 July 1935, Page 8

A DANGEROUS ROAD

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—May I claim a little of your space to register a complaint as a lorry-driver and on behalf of other lorry-drivers who have occasion to use what is known as Campbell's Mill Road? The state of the road is not creditable to the Water Board, which I understand controls it. For about five miles it is full of holes, bumps, slips, etc., and is dangerous, nerveracking, and costly to all concerned who have to make their living driving on the road. If the board claims that it has not funds for the work, then the Government . should do it, as it claims to foster industry and apart from Campbell's Mill there are between fifty and sixty men employed on blocks getting firewood, posts, etc., during the winter. They are mostly married men with families, and these men are being kept off the unemployed list on this work. ■ Lorrydrivers are entitled to a little consideration for a decent road to these men. We pay heavy fees and all the rest of the taxes connected with motors, and yet have to pay a double tax through unnecessary faulty and bad roads. We have done a lot on the road trying to keep it clear of slips, rocks, etc., and Campbell Bros, have had to put stringers on the road in a good many places and clear big1 slips and blast rocks. I cannot say whether they were subsidised. They were certainly entitled to it. I could give dozens of instances .of lorry-drivers having to work clearing fallen roots lof trees off- the road and shovelling [the slips away to be able to get 'through. A few weeks ago rocks weighing several tons came down, and jacks had to be brought from the mill. It held the road up for about a day whilst the men had to work in pouring rain to clear the way to get throughvolunteer work, of course. The Little Akatarawa Road is more used in the winter months, than the main Akatarawa is, and I think it is well known to thousands of picnic parties in the summer, when motorists use it when the road is fairly safe. I would call it the motorists' and picnickers' paradise in the summer and the lorrydrivers' nightmare in the winter. I would suggest to the Water Board members, combined with some politicians, to take a trip up on a wet winter's day. Any lorry-driver will be.

only too willing to give them a free ride, provided they take their own insurances out before they leave. —I am, etc.,

JUST A LORRY-DRIVER.