"HELPLESS LETHARGY?"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 13 April 1928, Page 7

"HELPLESS LETHARGY?"

(To the Editor) Sir, —We have a Progress League in Nelson and a Chamber of Commerce to whom we look to protect our interests. t'p to the present time they appear to have- overlooked or to view will) helpless lethargy one of the greatest setbacks that Nelson has faced.

1 refer to the approaching less of the greater par! of Nelson's tourist traffic ami our almost complete isolation. If something is not clone and done immediately Nelson will he left to stew in its own' juice, left in a little backwater outside of the main streams of traffic in the South Island. We have suffered greatly in the past from insufficient and inadequate steamer accommodation, and while that has been remedied in the last

few years it is complained of as not enough at Easter and Christmas, when special demands are made on it. Nelson people do not seem to have realised what difference this new road up the Wairau Vallev is likelv lo make to Nelson. 'lhe main'ferry iov the South Island will be Wellington to I'ictoil and will no doubt be vastly improved to meet the traffic. From there tourist, and passengers will ,-„ either East Coast via Kaikoura or

West Coast via Tophouse. and Nelson with 'ill its attractions will be left out i„ the cold. Incidentally, when the Crevmoutb-Westport Coast road if completed, the tourist traffic will be to West port and then by the sea road, leaving Reeftoii out of the main stream of traiiic. What is to be done? It Nelson wakes up and calls a public meetiii" or interests itself seriously in the matter it is not yet too late lot do something. Nelson should )o)ii with Picton in pushing on the Crove-Mahakmawa Road which will directly link .Nelson with Picton. Nelson should also insist that the present deadlock between the Waimea CountV Council and the Nelson Automobile Club and the Mam iri"hwavs Board should come to an end, and that everv effort should be made to improve the 'road between Picton and Nelson If this is- done energetically and at once and we got a first-class read from Picton To Nelson it will attract a -Meat part of the traffic as the scenery on the road is verv fine compared with the monotony and uninteresting Watrau Vallev route to Tophouse. It. however, the present squabble between Nelson •Mid the Main Highways Board is continued and the main issue and present opportunity are lost- sight of, Nelson will find she has missed the bus and Will have received the greatest setback 1,1 h,> '' NELSON. Nelson, 12th April.