“NATIONAL ROAD”

Southland Times, Issue 22188, 2 December 1933, Page 5

“NATIONAL ROAD”

KINGSTON-QUEENSTOWN CONFERENCE URGES COMPLETION LIMITED TO PASSENGER TRAFFIC When urging the completion of the Kingston-Queenstown road at yesterday’s conference of progressive leagues and local bodies, Mr D. J. Wesney (who represented the Queenstown Borough Council) submitted that the Government, through the Transport Board, could limit vehicles using the new road to those engaged in passenger traffic. This would allay fears that the railway service would be doomed were the road completed. After an interesting discussion the following resolution was carried: “That work on the Kingston-Queenstown road should be recommenced at an early date and that the Government be advised that this conference representative of all the progressive leagues and local bodies of Southland was unanimously in favour of its completion.” “The Queenstown Borough Council,” said Mr Wesney in moving the remit, “is strongly in favour of the Government’s recommencing work on the road. The Queenstown people find that their demands are not being fairly met throughout the whole year. They have no desire to see the steamer service discontinued, but they feel that under present conditions they are isolated. This was particularly so this year through a breakdown and the restricted railway service. Such a large sum has already been spent on the road and such a comparatively small sum is required to complete it that it seems only logical to proceed with the work. There has been talk that were the road to be completed the railway service would be doomed,” continued Mr Wesney, “but this fear is not held by those people who have the interests of Southland at heart. It is suggested that the road should be open for passenger traffic only. The Government now has the Transport Board to say what traffic is permitted on roads and can quite well control the traffic on the KingstonQueenstown road. Public Bodies Want Road.

“The Government has estimated that using single relief workers it would cost £17,400 to complete the road,” he said, “but certain Government departments have now turned somersaults and arc opposing the road. However, the Queenstown Borough Council asks that this conference make the strongest representations to the Government to have the work recommenced. All the public bodies of Southland are keenly in favour of the road. Much of the work being done by way of unemployed relief is for the day only, but the completion of the road is of immediate and permanent value.” Mr J. Campbell (Lumsden Town Board) endorsed the suggestion made by Mr Wesney that the Government should control the traffic on the road as well as the reasons adduced for its immediate completion. He seconded the remit.

Mr J. A. B. Walker (Riverton Progressive League) submitted that the time was now most opportune for pressing for the completion of the road. He suggested that the Government could well consider buying, say, twenty motor buses for service on the road instead of purchasing a new steamer, a necessity with which the Government would shortly be faced.

Mr J. McNeill (Southland County Council) said that the Lake County Council had in the past been a stumb-ling-block to the completion of the road, but had, ho understood, now come almost into line. There still remained the one obstacle—who would take over the road and maintain it? If the Lake County Council agreed to do its part the Government should not hold the matter up any longer. Opposing View. Mr T. F. Doyle (Mayor of Bluff) created a mild surprise by stating that he could not support the remit since he considered the Government’s attitude was the right one. “One of the greatest assets of Queenstown,” he said, “is its boat service. If the road is put through the service is doomed. Then there is the question of maintenance. Who are going to share this cost? Furthermore, I don’t agree with the idea of the work being done by a single men’s camp with the men getting 1/8 a day. If the road is essential, standard rates should be paid. I have weighed all the evidence carefully and I am in agreement with the attitude of the Government.” “I can’t agree with Mr Doyle,” said the chairman (Mr W. Hinchey). “I think the road is a necessity. It is a national road, a main connecting link. As regards the steamer service I think it is the opinion of those who ought to know that the service is not being run by the Railway Department as efficiently as it might be. When the boats were run by private enterprise they paid a handsome dividend, but under Government control they have been a liability. I am satisfied that if they were taken over by private enterprise they would pay again. But the present state of the service lends force to the argument that the road should be completed. The sum of £30,000 has been spent on the road which is a strong argument in favour of its completion. As regards Mr Doyle’s remarks about the wage of 1/8 a day, I can only say that much work of less value than the Kingston-Queenstown road is being done under this head.” Mr G. V. Edge (Bluff Progressive League) said that the money already expended on the road was a good argument for its completion. Fie suggested that the work should be done by a number of private contracts, this being probably both better and cheaper. Mr S. McC. McDonald urged that the main issue should not be lost sight of and he deprecated any tendency to involve the league in a volte face. He submitted that the road would be one of the most permanently valuable it would be possible to construct. Apart from its value as a highway it would induce closer settlement.