THE NEW ROUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27241, 18 November 1949, Page 6

THE NEW ROUTE

Middlemarch Highway WOULD COST £500,000 Proposal “ Ridiculous ” Mr R. Trevor Smith, chairman of the Main Highways Board, at a meeting in the Taieri County Council Chambers at Mosgiel yesterday, told a deputation that in asking for the formation of a new highway to Middlemarch they were “ beating the pistol a bit.” He had a report from the engineers on the project, and they said it would cost £500,000. There was not a possible chance of starting it. “We have so many urgent tasks that require the expenditure of a few half-millions that will take urgent priority,” he said. The proposal was ridiculous at this stage. He might consider making a walking reconnaisance, but not a physical survey. The height of the proposed new road would be nearly as great as that of the present one, and no great distance would be saved. The board would go into the proposal more fully, however, before it could decide anything definite, he added.

Mr A. S. Falconer led the deputation, which was sponsored at the last minute by the Mayor of Mosgiel, Mr W. P. Hartstonge, in order that the board would see it, as the board chairman stated it never met deputations. Mr J. W. Penno, chairman of the county, had stated that his council could not sponsor the deputation as it did not favour the proposal to be submitted for the board’s consideration.

In pointing out the advantages of the proposed route, Mr Falconer stated that all the deputation asked was that a preliminary survey be made to ascertain if the scheme was feasible.