RIMUTAKA HIGHWAY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 5 September 1929, Page 8

RIMUTAKA HIGHWAY.

METHOD OE CLEARING SLIPS. NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS .MADE. (J3,y Telegraph—Press Association.) MASTER!ON. Sept, 3. A number of complaints tune been made of the unbusinesslike way in which slips on the Rimutaka road, which is the only highway between Wairarapa, allegedly are being cleared, and also at the unnecessary holding up of traffic.

As a case in point, it is reported that this afternoon a small slip came down at the. site of the original slip and blocked the road for a lew hours. A traveller to Wellington arrived at the site of the slip while the road was blocked and was told, it is Mated, he would have to proceed to Wellington via Manawatu. a detour of 12P miles, whereas the road was actually cleared about two hours later, but not by the workmen employed on the job. It is alleged that when the men knocked off work at 5 o'clock a comparatively small quantity of debris was left on the car track. This, however, was removed by about twelve service car ■drivers and passengers in a shorl time and the road opened for traffic.-. Considerable indignation exists among the travelling public in Wairarapa over recent stoppages of traffic on this highway. It is also alleged that some dangerous rock at the site of the slip, which could have been removed with facility when the original slip came down, has been left and might probably again block the road, whereas previously it would have been an easy matter to remove it with the aid of the existing .slip as a slide to precipitate it over the roadway into the gully, in a period of two hours.

Since the road was opened by volunteers this afternoon a total of '27 ears, nine service cars, and two four-ton lorries negotiated the road.

The road is under Government con trol.