MAING BETTER ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18730, 9 June 1924, Page 8

MAING BETTER ROADS.

DEPARTMENTAL KEENNESS.

DEVIATION AT RANGTRIRI.

SURFACE TO BE SEAL-ED.

REPAIRS AT MANGAITI.

" Methods of road construction, temployed in the department are improving ; very fast," said the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates, on Saturday morning, in. discussing reading : problems generally. " Departmental officers arc seized with the importance •the coming of the motor has given to roads in our national system of communications. They are displaying very keen interest m the constructional problems raised in securing permanence with economy. Quick developments may be expected in this branch of the department's activities." Referring to the "eternal question'' of the Rangiriri Hills road 1 Mr. Coates said it was due to be robbed of its notoriety and its terrors during the coming summer. That was the department's undertaking and there was no question but it would bo fulfilled. The urgency of the work was realised. " It is intended to make a good traffic road and a good surface," added "Mr. Coates. " Yes, that means sealing. Where so much money has been spent and heavy metal put on, it i 3 no use allowing tho job to spoil for lack of sealing. The road' thereabouts will, pi course, come under the Highways Board, but the Public Works Department will retain control of that portion on which it has been working until it is in good running order." The fact that large sums have been spent on the road outlets from Wellington via Paekakariki and the Rimutakas, and that the Gisborne-Wairoa Road is being tar-sealed, while Auckland's main route to the South i» still closed, was referred to Mr- Coates' notice. The Min-

ister said there had been to discrimination. It was simply a case of relative urgency. Wairoa and Gisborne had no rail connection and had been so long isolated that r.o one would grudge them their tar-sealed road. As for the road outlets from Wellington, their former state had been a menace to every person who travelled over the hills.

Such conditions certainly did not exist in connection with, the Rangiriris. The risk amounted to getting stuck in the mud, and travellers generally were aware when that was likely to occur. At the same time the break in road communications represented by the Rangiriris was fully recognised and the remedy was not distant.

The deterioration that was taking place on the Mangaiti deviation, on the main Auckland-Taupo Road, and its impassable condition, was brought under the Minister's notice. Mr. Coates said all newroads gave trouble. They were subject to slips and subsidences, but he doubted whether the damage at Mahgaiti had been as serious as reported. However, the slips would be cleared and a surfaceman put on to maintain the formation until it was in a more stable condition. " You can't expect new roads to stand up to much at first," Mr. Coates concluded.