SOUTH ROAD SURFACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 12

SOUTH ROAD SURFACING

WAIPA COUNTY SECTION POLL ON LOAN PROPOSAL BENEFIT TO WHOLE DISTRICT An important issue is to bo put beforo the ratepayers of tho Waipa County on Tuesday, when a poll will bo taken on a proposal to raise a loan of £30,000 for tho permanent surfacing of tho Great South Road through the county, a distance of 32 miles. Should tho proposal bo carried, an early start is likely is to be made with a work that has been generally advocated for many years. Tho scheme, which involves considerable new construction and tho building of a bridge over the Puniu River, south of Kihikihi, as well as extensive improvements to alignment and grade on tho existing road, is estimated to cost £l4/),000. Of this amount, the Main Highways Board has agreed to pay £115,000, and, even if the cost exceeds the estimate, the county will not bo called upon to provide more than £.00,000. There is also an arragemeut between tho board and the Waipa County Council, by which tho board undertakes the necessary deviation construction free, thus relieving tho county of a payment of about £6OOO. In a recent address to ratepayers, the chairman of the county Mr. S. C. Mackv, said he was convinced that ratepayers would not bo called upon to pay an increased rate for sanctioning the £30,000 loan. It would appear likely, however, that should the proposal be defeated, motorists and land-owners, who had been waiting patiently for a better 'main road through the Waipa county, would demand improved maintenance, which would doubtless result in increased costs to the ratepayers.

The surfacing of the road would benefit not only the whole district, but would also pr6ve a boon to the travelling public. In the past, tho Waipa county section of the Great South Road has been notorious fer its uneven and dusty surface, and farmers whose land borders the road have complained of tho ill-effects of dust on their pastures and stock. The improvement in the pastures near the newlyopened stretch of concrete south of Papakura is an indication of the benefit that may be expected in the Waipa district if the raising of the loan is approved. Both county motorists and visitors from other parts have complained for years of the condition of the main road in the district. There have been serious accidents, and untold damage has been caused to motor vehicles of all types by jolting over pot-holes and corrugated sections. Tourists from the South have expressed amazement at the conditions, Motorists are unanimous in supporting the proposal, which, if carried, will mean almost an unbroken permanent surface from Auckland to south of Kihikihi.