BETTER ROADS FOR THIS DISTRICT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22816, 10 December 1948, Page 4

BETTER ROADS FOR THIS DISTRICT

.ANNOUNCEMENTS by the acting Prime Minister, Mr. Nash, and

the Minister of Transport, Mr. Hackctt, of greater State activity in road and bridge improvements are welcome. Little specific information has yet been given about new work contemplated in the Gisborne, Wairoa and East Coast districts, but Mr. Nash’s emphasis upon the need for scaled, clust-free roads from towns and small centres of population, the reconstruction of outmoded and dangerous sections of highways, and the replacement of old and unsafe bridges is reassuring.

Mr. Nash refers to the Trafl’ord’s Hill reconstruction, the replacement of the Pouawa bridge and sealing work near Gisborne and Wairoa, but much more work will be required before this district is satisfied. Mr. liackett admits neglect in the past, but qualifies this by saying that other Governments have also been to blame and that in more recent years the shortage of labour and materials has been responsible. That is only partly correct, for in recent years labour and materials have been found in other districts for improvements of which we would be proud. And, further, there has been the spectacle on the Auckland and Wellington routes of men and materials being used on “super” improvements which could perhaps in the circumstances have been delayed. It has been said that the roads in this district are 10 years behind the times compared with what has been done elsewhere. Dozens of instances can be given of sections of our main roads which, judged by modern transport standards, are dangerous and on which the only reasons why serious accidents are not more numerous are the skill of drivers and good fortune. There are few settled areas in the Dominion with more tortuous and narrow roads than this district and these, coupled with outmoded bridges, demand a high priority in improvement programmes.

This applies not only to main highways but to secondary roads as well. Their development from the aspect of the national economy is just as important as improvements elsewhere and there is a strong, just case for heavier State grants to supplement the contributions of ratepayers. For years there has been negligible, if any, improvement in some of our secondary roads, and there are access routes that are still not far from the horse and buggy stage. Now that the Government has decided to accelerate its improvement programme, using the present 3 per cent tap loan, it behoves the residents of this district to insist upon a fair share of the work by making firm and frequent representations to the authorities. The objective must be greater safety and lower transport costs.