OUR READERS' OPINIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11833, 14 January 1933, Page 4

OUR READERS' OPINIONS

NEED TO FENCE DANG-EROUS ROADS j*/ (To tho Editor.) ' } Sir, In connection with the. article* on “Boost Gisborne” one quite agrees with -the statement-that Gisborne is a most ideal holiday resort in 'eyory. ’ respect, hut. one cannot agree with the very optimistic description. °f the safety of road travelling. As n visiting motorist coming via Napier—an area not. commented upon- by. t-Ke writer of the “boost” I had a- vivid exhibition of how . unsafe,. for the outkide motorist, a trip on-these socalled main highway roa'ds to Gisborne . can be.'Further, I can heartily v endorse all the article which appeared in the “Auckland Weekly New.-'’ on the urgent need of fencing our main highways in the hilly districts by using the unemployed, to the fullest extent instead of using them to reclaim tidal swamp lands about Hokianga Harbour, etc. (fco those who are accustomed to the Gisborne roads all is tolerably well, but' to boost Gisborne and to encourage motorists from other areas to climb tlie steep narrow one-car road called the Devil’- Elbow is asking the'visiting motorist to commit suicide, end by allowing the two-decked'sheep lorries tr> drive at the speed; they do is obviously making doubly sura that the local undertakers’ and hospital" will be kepi busy. Gisborne no doubt feels that much

has been done to improve its main highways but this fact should not slow down the agitation for making the roads safe as well as passable for modern traffic. It seems peculiarly funny to find the best-fenced portions of the Napier AYairoa road on either side of the Waikare Hotel! No such protection exists on the Devil’s Elbow or on the AYaihu Hill where a big sheep lorry nearly sent rrm t-o a hurried exit from this mortal plane! The only satisfaction I got from the driver was that as he never could hear a tooting horn he never took any notice of them, and. to add further to the story, I was ascending the hill. I ohserved during the trip that all these sheep lorries, some six I passed, wore being driven in much the same manner. I somehow foM that ibis state of affairs will persist until the insurance companies compel the Government to tighten up tho control of these lorries, either by refusing to insure them or by reducing thc-ir width to inside the wheel-track', i.c., no overhang, and that all hill roads must be securely fenced with suitable places for passing other traffic. To boost Gisborne before the rc-a-I? are made safe for visiting motorists is only wasting money and energy, because a motorist will come ori account of the good hotels and good beaches, which make the stay very pleasant in Gisborne, hut lie will return to friend.- and regale them every evening for months after on the un safe state of the roads, of how he was nearly killed by a passing lorry. c>r nearly went over a bank three hundred feet deep, and his friends will tell their friends, and so intending motorists and visitors will he scared to come to Gisborne. The humour of the “Boo=i” article can only he appreciated when one reads in the next column the story of an insurance agent being anxious lest hi- client was going to the Poverty Bay district. >'n in. conclusion may I state plea -e fence very dangerous tvac s first before you boost them and hammer away until Mr. Coates does ?o. T am. yours, etc.. “’VISITOR,"