VIRTUES OF A NEW ROADWAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 1 (Supplement)

VIRTUES OF A NEW ROADWAY

Points Overlooked

By MATANGA

OUR City Fathers—meaning by that hallowed title a majority of the Ci.ty Council and possibly His Worship the Mayor—have been much too modest about their resolve to give us the boon of a new Domain Drive. If only they would try to overcome their inborn nervousness in public speech and bless us ,with a few more of the brief, crisp, apt and beautiful utterances that, outside committee-rooms, have too seldom stirred us to pride in our city—and in them. They do so much on our behoof without its costing us a penny that we would joyously be rated to reimburse them for the grey matter and overtime expended in preparing speeches of real enlightenment and charm. When they have go good a case as that for this fine thoroughfare, silence is a sad deprivation. To be sure, some of thorn have won a victory over distressful reluctance to hear themselves speak on even so inspiring a theme as this Drive. For the most part, however, they have left the framing of arguments to the City Engineer; and he, excellent fellow, employed to find reasons for what they decide* to do, has set out, in order, points for their public use in bright sprints of oratory. A few things have been overheard rather than heard. For instance, work will be provided for many in need of it. This novel idea is all the more splendid because the benefit will be -' dispensed, with a lordly disregard of vulgar clamour, to perfect strangers, men whom the benefactors do not know, have never seen. Could anything be more generous or gracious? To this there might have been added clear and easy proof that in all their duteous exchanges of sage counsel the City Fathers bad been unable to find other work so urgent and so productive of general welfare, irrespective of wayfarers' visible means of support. This argument, 110 doubt, will be remembered and elaborated by somebody later. ' ! Convincing Proof ' Credit must* bo given for a notable contention. So that there shall not be undue encouragement to neglect this handsome innovation, some roads in the Domain will be obliterated. A stroke of genius! When you make a superlative highway, see that traffic concentrates upon it, in convincing proof that it was wanted; so shall the mouths of ignorant blasphemers be stopped. It would be a scandal if magnates in local'government gave critics a chance to barb objections with awkward facts: moral—adjust the facts. A little dialectic profit has accrued from praise of the contour of the winding way. More could honestly have been 6aid. Look at the plan. Mark the gentle, chaste/; effect of the flowing curve—a veritable Grefcian bend, reminiscent of Venus de Milo. O glorious art! * And not only art. As specifically explained, it will be possible always to see well alnjad, so that no rough handling of brakes will ever be necessitated, to the detriment of mechanical devices, and the right to the road may be vaunted against all-comers. After all. what are roads for? Much less has been made than might

have been of,the service of this road to motorists in a hurry—as they occasionally are. It will have marked superiority over any alternative route from the foot of Queen Street to Newmarket, and vice versa; more direct, pleasanter, and less hard on vehicles. As for safety and comfort, it will offer a welcome relief from the congestion of Grafton Bridge and the increasing perils of Grafton Road. He would bo a callously ungrateful motorist, and foolish to" boot, that refused to take advantage of so good a gift from the municipal gods. No Commercial Vehicles But traffic on it will, it is said, be controlled. Oh yes, that is another point little heeded: more jobs for worthy traffic-officers —less unemployment —although some of them might be brought from the other Domain roads, to be closed under this scheme. Is it not known all over the world—well, the civilised world —how bravely they have striven to keep those roads free from the unspeakable horror of commercial vehicles, searching every carrier and back-seat for contraband? Their facility in reading, from the gilt-edged card — bearing the city's coat-of-arms, too — the definition of a commercial vehicle, is wonderful. A few of them can do it in only three breaths. This has to be seen to be believed. They should be doubled in numbers, for the new Drive, so sure to be popular. For the convenience of pedestrians—nearly forgotten in this uninspired appreciation of the promised speedway—there will be a footpath, and this, as a valued concession, will have delights of its own. . The bane of solitude (productive of melancholic madness), the awftilness of > quiet (known everywhere as the prime cause of hysteria), and the terrible monotony of only stationary growing things to look at, with now and again a glance at the distant view, all these agonies will be excluded. There will be perpetual joy—whoopee, is that the right term?—on the road; carloads singing "Oh, who will o'er the downs with me?" "Ye banks and braes" and "Show me the way to go home." There will not be a dull moment for those 'inenterprisingly content to "jog on, jog on the footpath way." The road beside them will be continuously alive, two - currents of energy sharpening each other's vigour.

Gilts to Life And yet more. Life on that route will be wonderfully fragrant. Tastes differ, and therefore some may not be altogether happy. When Christchuroli saw its first weird motor-car, it went nearly the length of I'apanui Road without stopping; As it disappeared round a bent! in St. Albans ait impressionable Pedestrian was heard to murmur — Stinkle, stinkle, little car, How I wonder if you are Always Koins; to smell so high As you stinkle, stinkle by! ' ■ Aromas of fuel have changed since then and it is' possible now to think them all delicious. Why not? »ith this is another interesting bestowal—on human beings, on the trees and shrubs in the arboretum and on the sweet vqjung things that- grow in the nursery and propagating gardens. When the City Fathers break silence, they should descant in their most Persuasive manuer on the health-giving properties of carbon-monoxide. As a Pain-eradicator, it is almost upique. Something - should bo said also for the new stimulus this motor-highway }\ill give to hospital patients, inducing them to think vigorously about a n, outside " world not afraid of ®njoying rude* health. This, although not always consolatory, will at least jnako them want to got up and do things. As an aid to such recovery, ■the influence of the new Drive is well Worth close thought and open speech.