THE RANGIRIRI HILLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18396, 11 May 1923, Page 6

THE RANGIRIRI HILLS.

In ] despair. at the indifference of the ' Government, ' the Automobile Association proposes to enlist the support of the City Council in its efforts to obtain improvement of the Rangiriri hills road. The. matter is certainly one in which the City Council may properly. exert its full influence, ' and the association might even organise a protest from all the local authorities between Auckland and Hamilton. . Such a movement should not be necessary, since there is no question that the road is in a deplorable state, that its condition is a' barrier across; the main line of communication, and that its permanent repair is of urgent importance. That has been admitted by the Government .without reservation, a definite promise was .made by the Prime Minister himself more than three years ago that the road would be reconstructed, and Parliament has several times authorised the necessary expenditure. Yet the Government, careless of the discredit such a. course involves, has contemptuously cancelled the classification of urgent -national importance by using the mending of the road as a means of unemployment relief. '■ Naturally very little has been ,accomplished,, the.result is not worth the cost, and the problem is as far from solution as ever. So much is the fruit of years of representation to the 'Governmentunfulfilled promises and excuses that are frankly nothing more than excuses. Is it surprising that public resentment has been aroused by such trifling?! ', It'may still be appeased, but not by more promises. The only way by which the Government can satisfy the public now is by performanceby concentrating on the Rangiriri hills such forces of labour and materials that the construction of a satisfactory road will be accomplished as quickly as possible.