THE WAKATIPU-TE ANAU ROAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22212, 15 March 1934, Page 15

THE WAKATIPU-TE ANAU ROAD

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, —In your issue of March 9 appeared a letter signed by "Traveller," in reply to the, report of my interview appearing in* your paper on the 24th ult. It is perhaps unfortunate that this correspondent has not travelled more extensively, for then his knowledge in general and his local knowledge in particular would better fit him to criticise. Further, it is surely presumption on the part of a traveller to pit his knowledge against that of a local resident of life standing, and it should be obvious that he is not concerned with the welfare of the district, the wellbeing of the lake steamer service, or of the railway feeding that service. He quotes figures regarding the operating losses of the steamer service, which make his case worse instead of better, for any additional opposition must make the losses greater. However, I do not agree that there is any real loss, because, if the service were run by a private company, certain overhead charges now debited would disappear. Notwithstanding, the service showed a loss of only £335 last year, and we are dealing with its present state. The Kingston-Queenstown road is _ a doubtful proposition at its best, and whi'e ] put the cost of completion at £IO,OOO, the Public Works Department puts the figure at £27,000,-and no mention is made of the high annual cost of maintenance. "Traveller" accuses me of contradicting myself, but if he were gifted as the poet Burns suggests, he would know that lie is even more guilty of this indiscretion. He suggests that if the road I advocate is completed, the owners of Walter Peak and Mount Nicholls Stations will send their wool through the back country by motor lorries; while at the same time suggesting that this freight is necessary for the welfare of the steamer service—a service which he wishes to kill. 1 would remind your correspondent that the Mackenzie family have beeu loyal supporters of tbe steamer and railway service in the past, and have no intention of competing with a service which has proved so convenient and satisfactory, particularly when tbe road mentioned would prove more expensive and troublesome. It is true that I said that thousands of people are likely to come to Queenstown iu motor cars if the Kingston road is completed, but these are the people who now travel by rail and steamer, and the loss of this business would do the steamer service a great deal of harm. My plan is simply to give visitors and the people of Queenstown a new and inexpensive inlet which will in no way damage the existing service. If "Traveller " .were aware of the numerous complaints regarding the discomfort ou ihe Ben Lomond during the passing holiday season, he would realise that a new steamer is an absolute necessity lor

tourist traffic as well as for the settlers above Queenstown. He is apparently unaware that until a few years ago there have been three steamers in commission on Lake Wakatipu since the very early days. Your correspondent doubts the accuracy of my assertion that the route i advocate from Walter Peak to Bunedin and Invercargill is shorter than that through Central Otago. Let me assure him that I have motored repeatedly over both, and should be in a better position to judge. Further, the Lake County Council would make a satisfactory job of the completion of this road for less than £3OO. In regard to the proposed bus service between Kingston and Queenstown in the oif season, who does he suggest would travel in the buses? There is a good deal of heavy cargo coming into Queenstown during the slack season which buses or lorries could not handle, and it is necessary for a steamer to run daily to Kingston ou this accouut alone. Therefore, why should a bus service be run in opposition? We find it difficult enough under present circumstances to get goods lorward in the quiet season withotl: having the service further curtailed. There is a daily passenger service from Invercargill to Kingston, a connection from J)unedin three times a week, and a connection by bus daily via Central Otago, which would appear to be ample to cope with off season passenger traffic. " Traveller's" remarks on the eubject of the transport of motor cars from Walter Peak to Queenstown appear to be wilfully unintelligent. The matter of organisation to cover these requirements can safely be left to the Railways Department, which can be trusted to deal with the problem with the minimum of inconvenience to the travelling public and in the most economical manner. —I am,

etc., " P. Mackenzie, Walter Peak Station, March 12.