MAUNGATAPU ROUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 18 April 1944, Page 4

MAUNGATAPU ROUTE

NELSON-BLENHEIM ROAD LINK

INVESTIGATION BY A.A. COMMITTEE POSSIBLE RAILWAY SYSTEM DISCUSSED An investigation into the advantages and possibilities of a new road between Nelson and Marlborough over the Maungutapu Saddle was referred to a sub-committee at last night’s meeting of the Nelson Automobile Association. Mr W. R. Grace said he had consulted local commercial passenger and transport road users on the savings in running costs which would result under normal business conditions by the construction of the Maungatapu route, which would reduce the distance between Nelson and Blenheim by II miles. A saving of 11 miles did not seem much at first sight but it would save the commercial users £2500 per year, without taking the time factor into consideration. Such a new road as an alternative to the present route would save about 20 minutes on the trip between Nelson and Blenheim, he said. He understood that when the East Coast railway was completed there was the proposal that most of Nelson’s fruit and other products for southern markets would go to Blenheim instead of to Inangahua. It appeared to him that in the interests of Nelson the possibilities of the Maungatapu route should be fully investigated. WAIRAU VALLEY LINE The chairman, Mr C. M. Rout, said the proposal was’ of vital interest to the people of Nelson with Blenheim as the rail link with the southern part of the island. “We will not see the NelsonCoast railway in our lifetime,’ he said, "and we will probably soon find Nelson further sidetracked by a railway tip the Wairau Valley, connecting Blenheim with the Coast.” Mr J. G. Ingram said they should think of the possibilities ten years ahead. The rail link with the coast would probably go up the Wairau and Nelson would then hang on the end of the system. LARGE EXPENDITURE Mr J. G. Cameron said that the present road route to Blenheim appeared to be a reasonably good one and he asked if it was thought that the Government would spend an immense amount of money, hundreds of thousands of pounds, on an alternative route. The chairman: “That samtt money would b c spent somewhere else where it would prove of less advantage.” Nelson had been marooned and sidetracked for many years in the matter of transport, he added. The secretary (Mr E. R. Neale) pointed out that if there was a line from the Wairau to the Coast the Nelson line would join it and the fruit and other products would be transported from Nelson by rail. Messrs W. R. Grace. J. G. Ingram and W. Gould were appointed as the sub-committee, to investigate the proposal and report to the executive.