MAIN HIGHWAY, WELLINGTON TO AUCKLAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3835, 23 August 1928, Page 2

MAIN HIGHWAY, WELLINGTON TO AUCKLAND.

(To the Editor.) Sir. —The report of the Highways Board meeting shows that it has been settled that the main road from Levin to Marton will be left alone for five years, while the Levin-Palmerston via Shannon road will be bitumenised and so on at once. All roads lead to Rome, it has been said, and all roads are being made to lead to Palmerston, at any cost to the travelling public. The way in which a section of the Palmerston people blocked the survey even of the proposed Levin-Marton railway in past, years is not- nor will be forgotten, and here again in the most barefaced way public money, and public convenience, is to be sacrificed in order that travellers may pass through Palmerston instead of going by the 20-mile shorter road via Foxton to Wanganui. It is quite clear that the arrangement is: a good tarred road 20 miles longer, truly, but with a car that doesn’t matter much, on the one hand, and on the other miles of the worst main road on the West with corners, that would disgrace an old-fashioned up-country bullock track. A man was killed at one of them a few weeks'past. Of course, that was .just an accident, but if flic road had been treated like other main highways, that man would probably be still alive. Now, it is settled for five years, apparently. Do the Chambers of Commerce of Foxton and Marton take no interest in what traffic goes through their towns? There are some public men about Palmerston N. who would pull strings against any Yankee lobbier in the States. The marvel is that those who are injured by their lobbying stand by and say nothing. Here is a case in point. Every traveller for five more years between Wellington and Wanganui and the north will have either to travel 20 miles further than is necessary, or pass over miles of loose metal and round dangerous corners —which, no doubt, in persuanee of the “through Palmerston aV any cost” policy, will be kept in the worst state possible, so as to discourage the public going that way. Has the Motor Association no opinion as to such action by the Highways Board and County Council as this. I expec-t the Palmerston N. Motor Association knows all about it. Pity they would not tell. — Yours, etc.,

BUIOK. [THE Horowhenua County Council is the controlling body over the main highway between Levin and Whirokino, to which our correspondent refers. The above county has done excellent work, at a cost which exceeded the estimate in completing the main highway south of Levin, and has sanctioned and committed itself to a large commitment to complete the highway via Shannon to Palmerston N., which the Highways Board has sanctioned. TherA is no doubt that Palmerston influence lias had something to do with the latter. Yet, as our correspondent points out, the more important ' and national work of completing the link between Levin and Foxton has been overlooked, despite the fact that this work was scheduled long ago. It appears that this portion is to be left in abeyance for a further five years. We urge the local Chamber of Commerce, Borough Council and Manawatu County Council to enter an emphatic protest and, in conjunction with the member for the district, request that this work be proceeded with immediately. — Ed.H.]