FIRE TOWNS-GOOD SCENERY

Evening Star, Issue 22892, 25 February 1938, Page 12

FIRE TOWNS-GOOD SCENERY

BUT AMAZINGLY BAD ROADS SOUTH ISLAND TOUH IMPRESSIONS [Special to the ‘ Star.’l WELLINGTON, February 25. A holiday motoring tour through the South Island has given Mr Robert M’Keen, member for Weilington South, a renewed enthusiasm for the scenic attractions of that part of the Dominion, but a feeling of amazement that South Islanders should have for so many years tolerated a standard of road communication which, generally speaking, is far behind that of the North Island. Mr M’Keen displayed these mixed feelings so vividly in a talk with your correspondent that he was persuaded to allow his views to be published, in the hope that the result would be a general acceleration of the movement for better roads |n the South, which, in the Wellington member’s opinion, is handicapped in its chances of developing a good tourist traffic because of secondrate communication between first class towns and wonderful scenery. What surprised, the North Island motorist on starting out from Christchurch on the “ great ” South road was that so much of it to Dunedin was still unsealed. And he found two important bridges had to be shared between road and railway, causing delays to road traffic) until the bridge was clear of the train. “To imagine that the main highway route between Christchurch and Dunedin depends on two such bridges is absolutely ridiculous,” declared Mr M’Keen. “In my opinion those two bridges should have been done away with 25 years ago, so that the South Island could keep pace with the improving standards of communication. It only show's how tolerant and patient people in the South can be to put up with such a system for so long. Then from Dunedin to Invercargill the Main road is in such a condition that one gets another glimpse of extraordinary patience. Having in mind a North Island road from Wellington to Palmerston North, and other roads linking towns at a similar .distance, I cannot think of any roads so bad in the North. This road was fairly narrow, covered with shingle, the only parts sealed being in the approaches to towns. One could expect the whole length to be sealed by this time. Then the road between Invercargill and Bluff—amazing that the local bodies have not got together to link up these two important points with a better highway. The general impression I got of the most important main roads is that they are 25 years out of date, and that the people have shown remarkabJo patience.” Mr M’Keen found 1 ’ that road improvement js actively proceeding, even though it has made a late start. Between Blenheim and Christchurch he thinks there are oyer a thousand men employed on the highway, which, when completed, will be one of the finest in the Dominion. He also considers that the Lewis Pass road is a wonderful link, between east and west coasts, and that the money is well spent on such improvement. " I was -in the South Island in the very height of summer,” he continued, “ and in Muchison district we experienced heavy rain, lightning, and tnunder, arid under these conditions had to traverse the Maruia Gorge, a narrow road with big ruts. Supposing tourists had been advised to take that route, it would _ ruin the chances of getting them into the South Island again. Why is it sometimes alleged that tourists are advised not to visit the South Island? If this_ is a fact,” suggested Mr M’Keen, “ it must be for the reason that those who give the advice take note of the prevailing weather, ‘in the light of their knowledge of the roads.” POINTS FOR PRAISE. The handicap of poor roads is all the more regrettable, in Mr M’Keen’s opinion, because the South Island has such wonderful attractions for the tourist. He thoroughly enjoyed the bush scenery and the magnificent mountains. Mr M’Keen was also impressed by the prettiness of the towns, declaring that from Bluff to Christchurch there is a succession of towns where one can see the latest in architecture, with obvious care of the ' sesthetic point of view. “ Their streets are wide,” he continued, “ and the towns are up to_ date, but once you get out of them into the wonderful country, you are disgusted with roads which do not provide much encouragement to go touring in the South Island by motor. They are certainly making great progress with motor camping facilities. The Addington Show Grounds provide the most modern of facilities. We pullecf'up at Oamnru, where they are catering well for the camper, and we found in many other places a full realisation that this method of holi-day-making has become immensely popular among all classes of the community, and that it is worth catering for. Motor camping has gone ahead remarkably within a few years. Not so long ago, when we went camping, you would not find women at the camps, but to-day there are many who can pitch a tent and drive in a tent peg as well as any man, and the facilities now provided for camping are helping to popularise it among the women.”-