WAITAKERE DRIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21315, 17 October 1932, Page 12

WAITAKERE DRIVE

M m Sir, —The Waitakere Drive, which t&fc Waitemata (Council intends construct^;; -;1 through the ranges, would, undoubtedly - be one of the finest scenic drives in jam Dominion and a great asset to Autklftrttf • from the tourist's point of view..'Bujjo ever, I fail to see how the ratepayers aw going to derive any benefit from it. drive would, of course, bo |§ "luxury" venture. Surely it is urifahnfa> employ money which is raised by meaijs of an emergency tax upon such a project, This money should be so spent that the ■ taxpayer will some actual benefit from the work done. Would it not be;a ';/ better scheme to spend the money oft completing the roads to the west coast \' beaches, viz., Huia, Whatipu, Kar'ekafe, Piha and Bethells? These beaches are, iji --- actual location, very close to-the heartr# Auckland, but they might be a thousand • miles away as far as the average individual is concerned, on account of the shocking state of the roads. These roads pass through the best scenery in'the takeres and terminate in country which is productive and which would greatly benefit by really first-class highways. Jg it not possible to spend the money <m . tec* sealed roads which will last without maintenance for a period of years and so the beaches and the surrounding try within easy reach of Auckland ?TKe Unemployment Fund at the present time shows a surplus and were large, unproductive undertakings eliminated and the ■money spent on improving existing works the public would derive some ultimate' benefit and the wages tax might possibly be reduced. Taxpayer,