RANGIRIRI PROMISES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18763, 17 July 1924, Page 8

RANGIRIRI PROMISES.

The " squeaking" in Auckland about the condition of the Rangiriri hills road has evidently irritated the Minister for Public Works. He now says that the year 1925 was the time fixed for completion when the work was begun and in 1925 it will be finished. There is an unfortunate vagueness in the term "the year 1925" which may mean the first week in the new year or the last week of its close. Mi*. Coates was more definite in a statement made in Auckland last January. He then undertook that the deviation would be in a state to carry traffic by the end of the summer (now past) and that the whole work would be completed "early next summer." And he repeated: "Half the work completed this summer and the remainder early in next summer." The "row" about the Rangiriris would have been silenced long ago, if that promise had been kept. The summer is long past and the deviation has never been in a state to carry traffic. Even now there is no definite assurance as to when the work will be finished. Mr. Coates says that criticism does not put any stones on the road; neither do excuses. Auckland has reason for its impatience, and it would be better pleased with Mr. Coates if he would ceal3e talking about 1925 and instruct his department to put more "stones on the road."