LEWIS PASS ROAD

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 March 1930, Page 5

LEWIS PASS ROAD

BACKBLOCKS ROADING FIRST. | Extracts from a letter from a North Canterbury station-holder relative to the Lewis Pass road were read at yes-1 terday’s meeting of the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce by the President, Mr P. J. McLean, who intimated that the correspondent had given the land for the road and was desirous of help from the Coast in having its construction pushed ahead. He moved that the Minister of Public Works be approached and that the benefit of having a second route to Canterbury

be urged upon him. Mr A: M. Carroll seconded the motion and pointed out that the route over the pass would provide an arterial road for motor traffic as well as giving access to the Maruia Springs. The matter had been discussed recently by the President and visitors from Nelson, who had pointed out that there was an opportunity of urging upon Messrs Forbes and Atmore, and Mr Black M.P., the need for the work to be pushed ahead. It would also assist the Reefton people. He suggested that the Canterbury Progress League and also the Nelson Chamber of Commerce be asked to co-

operate. Mr Greensiade: What is the position in regard to the roads? It seems that the Automobile Association is I pulling one way and we the other, and that is not in the best interests oE the district. Motorists, replied Mr McLean, were not averse to the Lewis Pass Road being pushed ahead, but those at Hokitika were anxious to get the road through the Otira improved. He agreed that it was rather a big thing to push for two roads at once. There had been no movement relative to the Otira until after representations concerning the Lewis Pass had been put forward. Mr Greensiade enquired which would

be in the better interests of the Kopara; the Lewis Pass or the Otira Road. Mr T. E. Coates said that members knew his views. He thought it was disgraceful to ask the Government to make a highway there, through three or four stations, when at their own doors there were places where they could not get drays within miles of farms. If they wanted the Govern-

inent to make more highways, the money could be be spent at their own door, for there had been 28 accidents on the road betwen Greymouth and Kaimata; yet they asked the Government to spend money farther away. He still believed that charity began at home. All knew that the finances of New Zealand were “rotten”; yet they had railway'works going on at Westport and Murchison and main roads being made past Weheka, and ' now they were asking for further expenditure for another tourist road to be made over the Lewis Pass. Mr A. Carroll interjected that it would also be a stock route, and in reply to Mr Coates’ contention that it would take three weeks to drive cattle through, whereas they could be railed in eight hours, he pointed out that cattle were being driven through via the Buller. There were already 80 men working on the road on the Canterbury side. lyir Coates concluded that £1 spent on improving the Otira road would be equal to £5O on construction of the Lewis Pass road. Mr Greenslade considered that the principal concern should be the opening up of roads in their own district, to such places as the Kopara, a. vast area which was capable of great development. Although he would like to see the Lewis Pass road gone on with, if it were opening up stationholders’ land he would like to know what they were going to contribute towards it.

Mr McLean said that the Chamber was not going hot and strong for the road, but he could not see why it should not affirm the principle. The Automobile Association and the people of Hokitika were not in opposition to the road and he thought the Chamber should assist. He did not wish to push the matter, but the Chamber could say that it was in favour of the Lewis Pass road going,through, but at the same time wanted its own roads first. Mr F. A. Kitchinghani declared that the Lewis Pass road would go through sooner or later but it was not fair to ask that it be pushed on. Mr Coates referred to there being 90 men engaged on that work, yet right at their own end, in a district that could be opened up into good dairy > country, there were three men engaged on the road and he believed that they were to be put off. Were they to ask two Ministers to have hundreds of pounds spent on the Lewis Pass road and yet not ask for expenditure of a pound on their own roads? If they did so, some places must suffer,

so .let them ask that the most necessary reading works be done first. Mr McLean said that he was pleased that the discussion had come up, and suggested that the Chamber should assist as far as possible in regard to the Pass road, but make it clear that

it was not going much further in the matter. Mr A. Naylor pointed out that allocations of certain amounts for expenditure in various districts were made and the Lewis Pass road would not affect them. It would, however, be a benefit to this district, and he strongly supported its completion. Referring to the Chairman’s motion, Mr Greenslade .asked: “You don’t mean that you are going to send a wreath?” Mr McLean: “It has been moved by me that we are going to assist as far as possible.” The motion, seconded by Mr Carrol, was carried. Mr Greenslade then reiterated his contention that it would mean a great deal to the district to have roads made that would open up large tracts of fine country, and he referred particularly to the Kopara district, and to the Pell Hill, Haupiri and other roads, upon which all the money voted had been spent. Mr Coates stated that the other day all the settlers of an area which would divide into a hundred farms became so sick of it that they offered the area to the Government at a. low price. They were, however, side-tracked because the Government, if they loaded the land for necessary access improvements, would not have a reasonable chance of placing settlers upon it. Mr Kitehingham Sjaid that if all the money on the roads mentioned had been spent it was time they got more for them. Mr McLean moved that Messrs Kitehingham, Greenslade and he be a committee to discuss the matter with the Grey County Council and see if

they could assist towards progressing with the district roads. Necessity for improvement of the highway between Stillwater and Greymouth was a matter which Mr Coates considered should be included. In that connection Mr Greenslade stated that the Main Highways Board had already informed the Borough Council that it was desirable that the part of the road from the boundary into the town should be widened to 18 feet, and he believed that the Board would find the subsidy if the Borough could provide its share. It was decided to include the item in the motion, and also that the matter be discussed with the Borough Council as well as the County. The motion, seconded by Mr Ring, was then carried. The motion to elect the committee was carried.