MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 238, 5 September 1928, Page 2

MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —This morning I waited upon the officers of the Main Highways Board in connection with a statement which appeared in the Foxtail Herald recently. I felt sure that the statements were not accurate, and wish to publish in full the explanation of the future jiroposals of the Alain Highways Board so far. as Levin-Marton and Levin-Palmerston roads are concerned. The communication 1 have received from Air Furkert is as follows: “Wiith reference to the newspaper cutting from tho Foxton Herald concerning which you made enquiries this morning, I have to inform you that the statements contained therein are quite misleading as far as the reference to tho Alain Highways Board aro concerned. The poKion of the road between Levin and Wirokino is a section of tho Auck-land-Wellington Alain Highway and as such its surfacing is regarded by the Alain Highways Board as a more urgent matter than tho surfacing of the Levin-Palmerston North Alain Highway. As you aro aware, a proposal has been submitted by tile Highways Board to the Horowlienua County which provides for tho completion of the surfacing between Levi n and Wirokino, but which does not provide for the completion of the surfacing between Levin and the northern boundary of Horowlienua County on the Levin-Palmerston North Alain Highway. Aloreover, there is no proposal in sight to surface the portion of the Levin-Palmerston North Alain Highway within tli© Kairanga County. With regard to the Alanawatu County section of the Auckland-Wcllington Main Highway between Wirokino and Sanson, the Alain Highways Board has made a special offer to the Alanawatu County Council which should unquestionably ensure the speedy improvement of this section. No announcement has been mad© by the Alain Highways Board that should lead I anyone to infer that the Levin-Alarton Road will be loft alone for five years. There has never been any. suggestion by the Alain Highways Board that j Wanganui and Now Plymouth traffic |ho diverted through Palmerston I North. This is quite evident from tlio fact that tire Board in 1924 selected the route via Levin, Foxton and Sanson to he the main route to Auckland. The- statements that influence has been brought to bear on the Alain Highways Board to Improve the Levin-Palmerston North via Shannon Road in preference to the Aucki land-Wellington Highway aro quite I contrary to fact.”-—I am, etc., J. LINKLATER. . Wellington, August 31st, 1928.