THE PENINSULA HIGH ROAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23647, 3 November 1938, Page 10

THE PENINSULA HIGH ROAD

The discussion at a meeting called by the Peninsula County Council respecting the high road bello touched a question of considerable interest. This road is obviously of more than local importance. Apart from its condition it is an asset to Dunedin as a particularly fine scenic drive. If it were put in first-class order the motorist would rejoice and it might be expected at once to carry a heavy vehicular traffic. A procession of speeding cars might not enhance its charm, but from a point of view.which cannot be ignored there is no gainsaying that the creation of a first-class upper road to Portobello would be a distinct contribution to the amenities of this city The Peninsula County Council being in no financial position to achieve this transformation, the problem of discovering means by which the desired improvement can be accomplished presents itself' It is impossible to argue that the road is an arterial one which should be taken over by the Government as a main highway, and, although the present Government is showing more than a libera] mind in relation to highway construction near at hand which has not been asked for, the Minister of Public Works has already indicated that in his judgment no case can be made for the acceptance of the road as a main highway. The meeting of representatives of interested bodies agreed that it would be wasting time to make representations in that direction and decided to ask the Government to take the road over as a scenic route and carry out the work necessary to make it beautiful for the motorist. Whether the Government will show itself agreeable to the adoption of this suggestion seems at least doubtful. Here, adjacent to Dunedin is a hill-top road commanding expansive scenic vistas the value of which is heavily discounted by its present condition. It is altogether beyond the capacity of the Peninsula ■ County Council to face such an expenditure as would be involved in bringing it to a state that would be satisfactory to those who would make use of it. How the cost may otherwise be met is a question that is not quite simply answered, unless the Government is prepared to be really helpful. Perhaps the most hopeful method of procedure would consist in an endeavour to obtain from the Government in respect of this route a subsidy so increased as to admit of the local bodies interested at least considering whether the cost of the reconstruction of it would be beyond their ability.