The New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1926. KEEP AN EYE ON THE DESPOILERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12590, 29 October 1926, Page 6

The New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1926. KEEP AN EYE ON THE DESPOILERS

It is necessary again to warn the ratepayers that a section of the City Council is still nourishing the idea of constructing a road through the Town Belt from the Glen to Tinakori road. Tne result of our inquiries on the point appears in another part of this issue. The Mayor admits that certain councillors are occupying their minds on the subject, blit he adds th<tt so far the scheme is quite “in the air.” That is to say, it has"not yet been put to paper. We have not been able to verify a report that a preliminary survey has been taken. Our report indicates the hostility which will be aroused should the council decide, in ope of its* irresponsible moments, to persevere with the road. Those councillors who are opposed to any such vandalism may rely beforehand on the whole-hearted support of that large body of public opinion which has grown thoroughly weary of the vagaries of its civic administrators.

Under no pretext whatever ought this thing to be permittedThere is talk of the spoil to be torn from the Town Belt being required for filling-in purposes where a street is being widened. That does not amount to even a semblance of justification. Easier and more direct access from Kelburn to the northern end of .the city has been advanced as another reason why this area of native bush should be petrdlised. It is an argument characteristic of the humourless mentalities which first conceived the idea of roadipg this valley. We repeat that citizens, as the owners of the Town Belt, have the right to the last word on this subject. Before ever a sod is turned, the public may properly demand that it be allowed to express its opinion as to whether or not the road should be constructed. It must not be forgotten that these precious bits of bushland belong to coming generations also. Wellington is steadily expanding. In another decade or two it will need every rood of recreation area and pleasure-ground it can Acquire for its physical and spiritual delectation. That reflectionjellsus, if it tells us anything, that it is the bounden responsibility of all right-thinking citizens to see that no further encroachments are made on the Town Belt. In confirmation of our own story, we refer readers to a letter (published to-day) from an Esteemed correspondent. The writer asserts that a trail has already been blazed through the threatened bush. Whdt answer has the Mayor to that?