LAKE ROAD

Southland Times, Issue 22378, 18 July 1934, Page 8

LAKE ROAD

WORK PROCEEDS COMPLETION APPROVED MINISTERIAL STATEMENT TOURIST ATTRACTIONS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, July 17. The Kingston-Queenstown road which will form an important link in the reading system of the Lakes District of Southland and Otago is to be completed, the Minister of Public Works announcing to-day that the Government has authorized its construction. Members of the Government are confident that completion of the Milford road will lead to a direct steamer service from Australia to Milford Sound and consequently completion of the Kingston-Queenstown road will enable tourists to travel from Milford through the whole of the lake country. The possibility of establishing a road between Milford and the West Coast i road system for the dual purpose of tourist traffic and land settlement may also be considered. The Postmaster-General, the Hon. A. Hamilton, spoke of such a road in an interview this morning and said that it would be required to enable tourists from the north to take the trip that would be available to those landing at Milford. The Kingston-Queenstown road, which is 25] miles long, was commenced by the Ward Government to provide work for the unemployed, but was stopped after 14.] miles had been completed. Southern members, including Messrs J. Hargest, P. A. de la Perrelle, W. A. Bodkin and A. E. Ansell, pressed for completion of the road, both as a necessary arterial route and as a suitable place for an unemployment camp. The part of the road to be completed is mainly on level ground along the side of Lake Wakatipu at the Kingston end and will provide suitable pick and shovel work for a large number of men. Before the work can be commenced, arrangements will have to be made with the Lake County Council for maintenance of the completed road. When these arrangements have been made, the men from the Waitaki Hydro works will be transferred to the Jake to start construction work. Mr W. A. Bodkin stated to-day that the Lake County Council had expressed its willingness to maintain the road if it were declared a main highway. He is confident that there will be no difficulty in that direction and the position of the road supports his view, as it will be the main highway between Southland and Central Otago. “Provision of a road across from the south to Queenstown will naturally have some effect on the steamer service operated by ihe Railway Department on Lake Wakatipu,” the Hon. J. Bitchener said in making his announcement. ‘‘The Government realized that the road would have an adverse effect on the financial position of the lake boats and some adjustments in services on the lake would therefore be necessary. The service would have to be curtailed to conform with the requirements of the reduced traffic. “With the development that is likely to take place with provision of road transport,” he said, “it must be anticipated that the lake service will eventually cease to operate in its present form, and if transport by water is still required, it will be of a modified nature. It cannot be foreseen at this stage what commercial services may develop over the new road, but as construction of the road will involve the Government in considerable expense. Government services over the road will take precedence. “Future alterations in the lake services may possibly affect access, to Glenorchy at the head of the, lake,” the Minister said in conclusion. “The. Government is not unmindful of this and in the event of the lake services being seriously curtailed, consideration will be given to alternative access.” The Minister did not say what, the alternative access would be, but it is probable that he had the road to the head of the lake in mind. Residents of Glenorchy asked for this road some time ago, and if it were formed a great deal of additional lake scenery would be opened to motoring tourists. Discussing the possibility of constructing a road from Milford to South Westland, Mr Hamilton said that the country between these two districts had been examined from the air by the Public Works Department and it was believed that the road could be made without much difficulty. Although nothing had been decided, he understood men would be put on to cut a track and renort on the country as soon as the Milford road was completed. The road suggested would be of more advantage than a road through Haast The Minister added that it would pass .through good scenic country and would open up land suitable for settlement. From what was known of the country to the north of Milford, it appeared that good timber and agncultural areas could be found there, it the road is built,” said Mr Hamilton, “settlement will follow. If 50 settlers could K established there, they could open a dairy factory and ship their produce from Milford.” KEEN GRATIFICATION LOCAL BODIES. Gratification was expressed by the president of the Southland Motor Association, Mr D. J. Wesney, and the president of the Southland League, Mr W. Hinchey, when the message was referred to them last evening. “The Government’s decision to complete the road will be greeted with the utmost satisfaction by those local bodies in Southland'who for the past , three years have been ceaseless in their endeavours to have' this important highway completed,” stated Mr Wesney. “The Government apparently has been impressed by the possibilities of a direct steamer service from Australia to Milford Sound and the completion of the connecting link will provide the necessary facilities for unbroken motor travel through the lakes district of Southland and Otago. The new work will be most beneficial to the lakes district and no difficulty should arise regarding maintenance under the highways scheme. The Government’s action in deciding to complete the work immediately should meet with the hearty approval of the motoring public.” . , Mr Hinchey stated that his long advocacy of the claims of the road for completion left no doubt of his approval of and pleasure at the decision of the Government. The news was the most

gratifying that had been received for some time. He had no doubt of the great benefit that tourist traffic would derive from the completion of the road, which had so long and persistently been urged by the league.