NATIONAL HIGHWAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9109, 30 July 1915, Page 3

NATIONAL HIGHWAY

WELLINGTON TO AUCKLAND DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTERS. A deputation from the Auckland and Wellington City Councils and other local oodles concerned waited on the Prim© Minister and the Minister for Public Works yesterday to urge the construction ot me main road between Taumarunm and 'i'e ivuiti so as to establish a national luge way through to Auckland. Mr A. o. Lairo, president ot the Taujuifuuui Cnatmoer or commerce ana a uaii'in an at La© -\;i tionai itiguwuy Conreteucc, stated that an lilac was asked loi at present was me liuKtug up ot existing roauo, me tonal cost or cne work being esirruated at -Uxi.Oj.

Air A. il. Skelton, representing Auckland interests, xiomtcd out that the survey H'tjuuvd ror me through roadway wouia piuoaory take twelve mourns, and this might in any case bo proceeded with, iroiii the mam inoiougniare orner roods woum radiate so as to provide access to millions of acres. The fact should not be lost sight of that tne highway would have its value from a military point ot view.

Councillor W. 11. P. Barber, in addressing the Ministers, alluded to the absurdity of such an important tract oi country being ieit in a practically isolated condition.

The lion. \V. Fraser: "You have the railway." Councillor Barber: "We have, but we have had ample evidence of the inconvenience that has resulted even with the railway during the last few days." The Right lion. W. 1' . Massey, in replying, staled that he had great sympathy with the idea that there should be a main arterial road right through from Auckland to Wellington. In present circumstances. however, it would be better to confine the proposal to making the road between To Kuiti and Taihape. He might mention that be had received a resolution by the Ohura. County Council protesting against the proposed road, as the district was already served by the railway, and the load would bo of use mainly to motorists and the loisned class. No doubt provision would have to be made for the motor-car in the future, us it had como to stay and would oe at important factor in business. The pr© sent time was inopportune for «u;h a proposal, which would commit the Go vernment to very large cxpenditu.c. It was almost impossible to raise money foi public works, although it could bo raised lor war purposes, and it had not been possible to raise the million authorised last session for road construction a: d improvements. There was nothing wrong with the finances of the cot! 'l'' , bulla the difficulty was the enormous expenditure incurred through the war. If ■lib i deputation would wait until o more opportune time, ho felt sure it would be well satisfied with tho reply it would receive to its request.

The Hob. W. Fraser said that the lime was not opportune for going into schemes entailing a large expenditure, excepi where, it was absolutely necessary. lie had always contended, however, that it was necessary to give access to the settlers in. the backblocks, and that they were the first who should be provided for. The sum it was asked to be expended was one-sixth of the annual expenditure on'the whole of the roads of the Dominion. As far as the survey was concerned, he would be willing to have this made as soon as possible, but many of his staff had gone to the front and men could not he spared for the work at present.

Subsequently another deputation, consisting of Messrs J. H. .Lyon and P. Brass, representing the Ohura and Waimarino County' Council, waited on the Prime Minister to protest against the proposed roadway, on the ground that it would be u&ed chiefly by motorists, and the needs of the backblocks' settlors should be first attended to, Mr Massey agreed that the requirements of the backblocks would have to come first, and intimated that whatever money was available would be spent where it was most urgently required.