THE EXHIBITION DRIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19255, 18 February 1926, Page 8

THE EXHIBITION DRIVE.

The condition of what has been called the Exhibition Drive—though the second half of the name is a misnomer—has long been a reproach to Auckland. In the past protests and demands for its rehabilitation have always been met with the financial argument. The cost, and the many other calls on funds, have been quoted against action for making it available for traffic. Now it appears thai the City Council's water-supply scheme in the Huia Valley necessitates the provision of some means of transport along the route of the drive. Material for the pipe-line must be taken that way. The alternatives are the making of a tramway or the formation and metalling of the drive itself. The cost is slightly in favour of the former alternative, but the estimated difference is bo small that the overwhelming advantages of the second possibility shoald carry the day without any doubt whatsoever creeping in. Not only is the opportunity there, but ii it is missed and a tramway preferred to a formed metal road, .the day for putting the Exhibition Drive into reasonable condition will certainly be deferred further than ever. As was revealed to the inspecting party yesterday, the work is worth doing for its own sake alone. The beauties of ranges, bush and sea, hidden away by lack of access, should be made available to the people of Auckland. In.the past that motive has not been strong enough to ensure the work being done. The public did not appreciate sufficiently what was involved. Those who realised the possibilities of the drive were too few in number to command attention. Now that the chance has eome to repair the neglect of the past, it is sincerely to be hoped the slight difference in the cost of a metalled road and small incidental difficulties will not be allowed to weigh against the removal of a long-standing reproach.