MOTOR TOURING

Southland Times, Issue 19335, 29 August 1924, Page 6

MOTOR TOURING

VISIT TO THE NORTH ISLAND TARANAKI: THE MOTORIST’S PARADISE LESSONS FOR SOUTHLAND. Mr William Stone, of Gladstone, returned to Invercargill on Tuesday night after a sojourn in the North Island in quest of health, during which time he did a considerable amount of motoring in the Wellington and Taranaki provinces. THE COMING OF SPRING. Mr Stone, who comes back completely restored to his former good health, tcld a Times representative that his trip had been a thoroughly enjoyable one, and in regard to good roads and excellent country in the North had been an eye-opener. He motored from Wellington over the Paekakariki hills, the roads around which were in fairly good order, right through the Manawatu and Wanganui districts into Taranaki, which he described as “the motorist’s Paradise.” From early morning till late at night he had motored over these magnificent asphalt roads, which extend in all directions through this glorious country, at the present time in kindly embraces of Spring. Never had he seen a country looking so well, with its splendid growth of early grass. The lambs already were well forward, while the dairying industry was in full swing. With such natural advantages, it was not surprising to find everywhere a thriving, contented and industrious people, for the full reward of whose labour the early and pleasant Spring was regarded ns a happy omen.

ADVANTAGE OF GOOD ROADS. It was in regard to the roads that Mr Stone was particularly impressed. “These macadamised roads,” enthusiastically declared the Invercargill sportsman and motorist, “are magnificent. Why can’t we take a leaf out of Taranaki’s book and have them here in Southland, which on ac ; count of the flat nature of the country is eminently adapted to them ?” Motoring on them was one of the greatest pleasures of life; tyre trouble was reduced to a minimum, and the saving to the motorist under this heading alone, in the aggregate, became enormous. It was noticeable to the visitor that the Taranaki people took a great, and justifiable pride in their roads. “What do you think of our roads?” was a question frequently asked, and there could be only one answer to it. One could not fail to be impressed by the wisdom underlying the adoption of a policy which provided such excellent highways. If the initial cost was greater than the cost of an ordinary metalled road, the ultimate saving was enormous. Maintenance, for instance, was reduced to a mere bagatelle, while the advantages to motorists were enormous. Less tyre troubles, and depreciation reduced to the lowest possible level, were two important factors to remember, while the comfort and pleasure of the motorist were enhanced to an extent it would be impossible to appreciate unless one had experienced the thrills and joys of a spin over the model roads in the bracing air of a Spring day. WORTH PAYING FOR. Mr Stone is fully convinced that no motorist would object to paying a little additional taxation to be provided with such roads. “I have come back to Southland,” he ‘declared, “an out-and-out supporter of a ‘good roads policy.’ There is nothing like it. It is a magnificent advertisement for a province to possess the splendid highways that Taranaki has. The people talk about it, pass the word on, and, in turn, people want to visit the locality. Why shouldn’t we try it in Southland? The conditions are more favourable here than in the north, and there is no reason why we shouldn’t go in for a big forward policy which will put our roads on a level with those of Taranaki, if we do not even exceed the achievements of the people in the great butter province.” Mr Stone added that the scenery in the parts covered, especially around Wanganui, was very good, but nothing could come up to the superb grandeur of the Southern Lakes which “stood out on their own.” In the North, most ’ cars were fitted with brakes on the four wheels, and, taking into consideration the numerous steep hills to be negotiated, he could quite appreciate the need for this. In fact, the hill work would give southerners, who were used to flat country, a bit of a shock. He could not too strongly advise any of these keen on a motor trip, not to miss the North Island, especially the tour through Taranaki, which, in his case, would ever remain one of the most pleasant in his experience. IN WELLINGTON.

“My friends in Invercargill will smile when I tell you that I got cautioned by a policeman for driving too slow in Willis Street, Wellington,” added Mr Stone, who related this unique experience. The traffic, he says, is kept going at a certain pace, and as he was not keeping up with it, he was peremptorily ordered not to go “Too Slow’” and block the traffic. However, it was surprising to note how well the people of Wellington were educated to a fast motor traffic. If they went that fast in Dee Street, Invercargill—well, the public wanted educating up to it. If this were attempted here, it would be surprising how quick the public would adapt themselves to a faster motor traffic with consequent less congestion in the main streets. THE HUTT ROAD. “ ‘More like London every day,’ aptly describes my idea of the traffic on the Hutt road on a Sunday,” declared Mr Stone, who added that considering the volume of traffic on this macadamised highway the number of accidents was surprisingly few. He had taken Mr Charles Broad and Mr Taylor, of Invercargill, for a spin along this road, and they had been loud in its praises. Here again the advantage of a good surface was apparent, and the benefits accruing to the motorist far outweighed the small fee imposed, he being under the impression that a special charge of 30/- per car per was collected. This sum was paid without a murmur, for the people realised that they were getting more than their money’s worth. The sanie remarks applied here as in Taranaki—tyre troubles virtually nonexistent, and wear and tear reduced to an almost negligible quantity. As he had remarked, the amount of traffic on the Hutt road was enormous and, on a Sunday in particular, reminded him of a Derby Day in England. MOTOR COMPETITION. Mr Stone was much struck by the extensive ramifications of motor transportaI tion in the North Island. The übiquitous motor seemed to penetrate into every nook and corner, with the result that township was connected to township, town with town and city with city. These services, well organised, were run to time-table with clock-like precision, and were comparatively cheap—cheaper in many cases than the railways to whom they were proving a most formidable competitor. In Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu districts in particular, the services were well-established and apparently doing a thriving business. By their means, remote settlements had been brought into closer touch with the towns and that ban of country life—isolation —had practically been annihilated. In these circumstances, it was not surprising that the demand was for more such services, which more truly catered for the wants and requirements of the scattered farming community than (he railways could ever hope to do. And with the provision of better roads and improved cars and lorries—for every day saw some new idea being incorporated in the latest vehicles—this competition was bound to become greater and more accentuated.

TRENTHAM RACECOURSE. It was only natural that a sportsman of the calibre of Mr Stone should like to see the latest going on in racing circles, and it is not surprising that he found himself out at Trentham, even though races were not on the programme. Here, he found visible evidence of the enterprise of the Wellington Racing Club. Two magnificent stands are included in the building programme. One, at a cost of £BO,OOO, has just been completed, while the other, which will absorb £lOO,OOO, is now in course of construction. Designed in accordance with the latest ideas, these grandstands he regards as a veritable triumph of the art of the architect. They are .replete with every modern appointment, it being even possible to make investments on the totalisator without leaving the stand. The luncheon rooms, waiting rooms, etc., leave nothing to be desired, the whole affording indubitable evidence of the energy, initiative and enterprise of the Wellington Racing Club, whose success is not only well-deserved but demonstrates the popularity,—and ever-in-creasing popularity—of “The Sport of Kings,” in the Wellington province, as, indeed, throughout New Zealand. “SOUTHLAND THE GEM.” But enamoured as is Mr Stone with the North Island under its veil of balmy Spring days, he still thinks that Southland is the gem of all. “But,” he emphasised, “give us good roads. Let that be the slogan: ‘Good roads.’ It is only when you have been in a province rejoicing in their possession, that you truly realise the enormous benefits they confer on the entire community—not merely cne section, but the whole of the district. Even if we have to pay a little more, it is worth while. We have here in Southland, scenery unsurpassed in any part of New Zealand. Our agricultural and pastoral industries afford scope for enterprise and industry on a scale of greatness hardly yet realised, while timber and mining hold for us a store of untold wealth. Let us then do all in our power to exploit and extend the development of these magnificent resources so that Southland shall come into her own as the gem of the South. But in achieving that end, one very desirable and urgent requisite is: Good roads.