SCENIC ROADS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 104, 4 May 1937, Page 17

SCENIC ROADS

WELLINGTON'S LACK

TARARUA ROUTE PROPOSAL

Endorsing the views of Mr. F. W. Vosselcr as expressed in Saturday's "Post," that Milford, Egmont, and other wonderful scenic roads were too far from Wellington and too costly in time and money, though they offered privileges to more nearby residents, and that a road into'the Tararuas would be a splendid asset to Wellington people, Mr. A. J. Toogooa, at the meeting of the Automobile Association, Wellington, last night, suggested that the roads committee of the association take the matter into consideration, and report While the Government was spending money on similar roads in other parts of New Zealand, he said, application should be made for some local road to utilise the scenic beauties of the district, or it would be too late.

Everyone knew, said Mr. Toogood, that every road in the vicinity of Wellington was denuded of trees and scrub, and gave no chance of picnicking in native growth. No city in New Zealand was barer in pleasant roads, or handily placed spots, than Wellington. Mr. Vosseler's suggestion was that a road should be opened up by passing over the Pakuratahi River, and going on into the Tauherenikau Valley, and he knew of no road that would be more economically justified, as it would give health, enjoyment, and satisfaction and unique mountain privileges in a day's outing from the populated centres'of the Manawatu, Wellington, and the Wairarapa.

If money was to be spent a long way from the Capital City, it might be an opportune time to suggest that Wellington should have its share. ■■ No doubt the unemployed would be kept going from year to year, and if application were not made now, Wellington would be left out Other places were well suited. Auckland and Christchurch, and even Dunedin, had more scenic places within easy reach than Wellington, as far. as roads were concerned. ' DIVIDED OPINIONS. Mr. E. 'Palliser: It has been advocated by people that such a road should be opened up, but there are others who want all that territory to be declared a national park, and oppose this driving road, or even putting a track through there. Mr. Toogood: Mr. Vosseler asks why a motorist should be excluded from the pleasures which trampers would have. '■ Mr. Palliser: There are other interests behind the movement which I am not prepared to discuss at the moment. My opinion is that if we are going to advocate expenditure on roads, we have many ideal roads throughout the island which are far more worthy of construction than that. We have -many* beautiful drives out of -Wellington No city in New Zealand has finer. When it comes to looking at it from a national point of view, we have a number of drives and roads which demand expenditure of money. I will bring it before the roads committee, but our expenditure of the public funds on such proposals is not justified. It means another road to a blind valley.

The acting chairman (Mr. H. W. Shortt): It only means another road to the Wairarapa.

. Mr. Toogood: I agree that many ideal and main roads require attention, but if the money has been expended in other-parts of these islands, on similar scenic.routes, to this——

Mr. Palliser: Not comparable, of course.

Mr. Toogood: . . . then 1 think we should not be thinking of our.' duties to the citizens of Wellington' if we did not make> some claim similar to those, v ifi and when, those roads are being put in by the Government.

Mr. Palliser: My opinion is that we should not approach the question at all, whether the scenery is at our back door or far away. If it is going to bring tourists to the country, well and good, but we must be consistent.