NORTHERN ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18631, 12 February 1924, Page 11

NORTHERN ROADS.

Sir," Cockie "is now to the fore with a nebulous shorter and better graded route from Auckland to the North, along the surveyed railway route (Hiley's proposed scheme, I presume), which he alleges was the first route chosen by the T* Atatu committee. I don't know where that route lies, but. if " Cockie " will de* finitely specify it, it can be tested to see which is the better. If the committee first chose such route and then dropped it, I should think they had good and sufficient reasons for so doing. " Cockie " need not waste his sympathy on the ratepayers of a great section of the North. The Kumeu district has & very efficient Ratepayers' Association, whose executive looks after the interests of the district very keenly,, and at a meeting at Kumeu some months ago, when the chairman of the Te Atatu committee explained the route, etc., obtained from him a distinct assurance that it was not intended to rate the Kumeu district in aid of the scheme. A careful perusal of "Cookie's" letter shows that while he is anxious jhat the North should progress and apparently approves of the bridpe across the-Whan, he is badly disgruntled at the committee (as he says) abandoning a route along the surveyed railway route, in favour of their present route. If there is any attempt at " wool pulling,surely " Cockie " is the trier in attempting to make out that the ratepayers in the Northern districts will have to foot the bill. My desire is to see the best route adopted, wherever it is. and I cive the Te Atatu Committee credit fo»- being actuated by the same desire. Until someone brings forward a specific route, that can be shown to be shorter, better graded; at as reasonable cost, and opening up as much undeveloped country as the present one, I do not intend to taka notice of anv further letters alletrinff such a route without specifying it definitely enough to permit of iits being tested. Backblocki®.