THE WHIROKINO HIGHWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LV, Issue 4570, 9 November 1935, Page 3

THE WHIROKINO HIGHWAY.

TRENCHANT CRITICISM. S!r

Speaking at Levin last night Mr J. K. Hornblow, Independent candidate, trenchantly criticised the neglect on the part of the authorities to protect the Whirokino highway against flooding. 'He said he had battled for years to get the authorities to do something but all to no avail. The stumbling block was the Manawatu County Council, the controlling authority, which studiously refused to take the initiative in the matter. Other red herrings, he said, had been', drawn ; across the scent to cause "delay," among which were the construction' of a spillway, a deviation along the river bank, and the prejudicing of dewatering of private lands. Behind all this,, he said, was some sinister motive. H|e added that the'work of raising the 561 chains from the bridge to the main drain and continuing the highway over high land by a deviation eliminating two-thirds of the present flooded area, presented no difficulties And was the best . solution. The«work_ would find,:<?pn--stant employment at full rates of pay for at least. 40 to 50 men for several months. As to the cost, he said this could be borne proportionately by the Public Works Department, Highways and Unemployment funds and an amount; equal to the average cost of maintenance to be paid by the County Council. Had lie represented the district in Parliament'the work would ere now have been an accomplished fact despite objections. The chairman, Mr Goldsmith Mayor of Le'vin, who presided) said the state of the highway was a disgrace to those concerned and something should be done immediately to remedy it. ; Like the speaker, he was unable to understand why such an important work as this had been so consistently shelved.