THE HUTT ROAD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8782, 11 July 1914, Page 4

THE HUTT ROAD

It is heartbreaking to read that the Hutt road is once more falling into a state of disrepair. That is a proper feeling for the individual. The public, however, has the right to regard it as disgraceful, and will very certainly exercise that right. Here is the finest road in the Dominion, in tho place of what for some years was a dirty ditch often impassable, always, unspeakable. After many efforts the Government took the matter in hand and made a road which everybody admired, but nobody wanted to pay for. It is this financial hesitancy which is responsible for the deterioration of whicli several of the city councillors complained the other night. Tho position appears to be tho proverbial deadlock —what’s everybody’s business is nobody’s. But the road cannot bo allowed to fall back into the old state. It is tho fact that it is rapidly tending that way which the public finds disgraceful. Tho public is right, for beyond all doubt the neglect of costly and important public works. is disgraceful. The local bodies concerned ought to arrange between them for the repair and upkeep at once. Tho whole financial position may bo difficult and unsettled. But it cannot be necessary to wait for that fog to clear before a necessary and valuable road is put in order and saved from decay. Hero is a plain duty. Tho spur to its performance is that the eventual expense of restoration will grow out of all proportion to the length of the delay in grappling. If that spur docs not act tho public will have to look for another, and will not be long in finding it.