THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES Tuesday, March 18, 1947. CENTRAL OTAGO ROADS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26413, 18 March 1947, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES Tuesday, March 18, 1947. CENTRAL OTAGO ROADS

The complaints recently made by the Automobile Association (Otago) concerning the bad state of the roads in Central Otago are substantiated by the experience of a Daily Times reporter who travelled extensively over this area last week. Not only are surfaces badly conjugated, but there is real danger from loose gravel on rock formations and from uncovered rock putcroppings. Such conditions are all the more deplorable at the present time when the majority of vehicles are less able to withstand rough treatment than in pre-war years. In Central Otago road transport occupies a prominent place in all forms of business activity, and furthermore, this region is increasingly popular with holiday-makers and in the summer months—when, incidentally, the roads are at their worst—it attracts thousands of visitors from' all over New Zealand. Much has been heard in the past year of the potentialities of Central Otago and schemes are now- projected or are actually being undertaken which should greatly assist the realisation of these prospects. But the first consideration should surely be to provide good main roads.

No ’ plan for encouraging commercial development or fostering the tourist trade in Central Otago can be fully successful unless there are good road facilities, and so far, apart from the inclusion of the reconstruction and sealing of the Clarksville-Alexandra road in Mr Semple’s 10-year plan for Otago, there has appeared to be little prospect that these will be provided. It is appreciated that some works have had to be postponed because of the war, and shortage of plant and of man-power is causing further postponements, but it is reasonable to suggest that the sealing of a through highway to Queenstown or Wanaka should be regarded as a priority undertaking. In a statement in our news columns to-day, a representative of the Main Highways Board explains the difficulties which have been encountered and holds out the promise that next year an extensive programme of reconstruction and sealing is to be undertakerf; A similar promise was made six months ago, and apparently, preparations have been advanced in the meantime, but as full details of the work have not yet been made public there is no reason why the Automobile Association should alter its intention of advancing Central Otago’s claim to better roading before the conference of the South Island Motor Union this week and later, if necessary, before the Prime Minister.