ROAD PROSPECTS

Southland Times, Issue 22998, 18 September 1936, Page 6

ROAD PROSPECTS

HAAST PASS AND HOLLYFORD DISCUSSION BY LEAGUE i “BROKEN PROMISES” ALLEGED Allegations that the Southland Progress League had broken its promises by not supporting the completion of the Haast Pass road, contained in a letter and a letter telegram received by that body from the Otago Expansion League last night, led to a discussion on the relative merits of the Haast Pass road and that from the Hollyford to South Westland. The Otago League called upon the Southland League to give the Haast Pass project its fullest support. Six further letters from individuals and local bodies referring to the subject of the roads were also received. After Dr J. A. Pottinger had urged that a spirit of co-operation rather than one of rivalry should be fostered between the two organizations, the following motion, moved by him, was carried:—

“That the secretary should advise the Otago Expansion League that the Southland Progress League was not aware of having broken any promises; that representations were certainly made in regard to the Hollyford route (it being believed to be the better from a national viewpoint), but now that the Government had announced that it was going ahead with the Haast Pass road the Southland League would acquiesce and would take no further action; and lastly, that it was the intention of the Southland League to cooperate with Otago in the future in urging the construction of roading projects in this part of the island.” The Mayor (Mr John Miller) presided and there were present: Messrs C. S. Longuet, H. C. Gimblett, M. H. Mitchel, H. Lindsay Mair, T. J. Boyce, W. G. Tait, D. J. Wesney, A. Hamilton, H. F. Drewe, A. W. Jones, Dr J. A Pottinger and the Rev. A. E. Waite. Doubt About Promises. When the communications from the Otago League had been read, Mr Mitchel asked if the Southland League had agreed to support the Otago League at all. The secretary (Mr J. S. Dick) said that he had attended every conference held among leagues in recent years, and though Southland’s delegates had not openly opposed the Otago agitators for the construction of the Haast Pass road, they had not actively supported it. Otago' was wrong when it said that Southland had broken promises. There was nothing whatever in the minutes to the effect that Southland would support that road. The chairman: I know of no instance where a promise was made to support the road and we would like to know what was promised. “Does Otago mean that we promised generally to support it in all its efforts?” asked Mr Boyce.

The secretary: Otago speaks about the support it gave us for the Queenstown road. We very definitely know that Otago opposed that undertaking. As far as the Eglinton road is concerned, I do not know of any support Otago has given to that. “We are not opposed to the Haast Pass road, but we are saying that we think the Hollyford route is the most important from the national viewpoint,” said Mr Wesney. Dr Pottinger said he doubted if the Hollyford would be the cheaper route. The secretary explained that the Haast Pass road was estimated to cost £4OOO a mile as against £2500 for the Hollyford route to South Westland. The Hollyford road was, of course, much longer. Mr Mitchel: I think we should strongly protest against Otago’s charge of broken promises. He moved that the secretary write to the Otago Expansion League to the effect that the Southland League was not aware of having made any promises and that it would like to be informed of the alleged promises; further, that at the present time the Southland League felt that it was free to support that route which, in the interests of the Dominion, it considered best. The chairman: We are not offering any opposition to the Haast Pass road f but we consider the other project to( be more important and therefore should be completed first. “Differences Should Be Sunk.” The view that the time had come when the league might well sink some of the differences with Otago and the two organizations should work together harmoniously was expressed by Dr Pottinger. The two projects did not belong to competitors. Southland was getting the road from Lake McKerrow! to the Hollyford and there was no doubt both routes mentioned would be completed. “Why should we not work ini with Otago?” he asked. “I do not know why we should not support the Haast Pass road. I think Otago, Southland and Westland should work together and not keep up a feud.” Continuing, Dr Pottinger said that there was no particular rivalry between the two routes and they were in a fair way of getting them both. One might be finished before the other, but what did that matter? “You do not have written agreements between leagues like international agreements,” he added. “It is the spirit that counts and that spirit should be one of cooperation. In our letter to the Minister we have talked about the national aspect but we seem to be looking after number one.” Mr Drewe: We cannot undo what we have done. Could not a conference between the Southland and Otago Leagues be held? The chairman: Work has already started on both roads. Mr Drewe: Then we should adopt Dr Pottinger’s suggestion and make peace. Dr Pottinger then moved his amendment as mentioned above. Mr Mair said that he had been more or less under the impression that Southland had led Otago to believe it had been behind it in the Haast Pass road. , , “I think Dr Pottinger s amendment would meet the bill as it is certainly not desirable to have antagonism between the two leagues,” said Mr Tait. Mr Mitchel withdrew his motion and Dr Pottinger’s amendment, put as the motion, was carried. After further discussion, it was resolved to write to the Otago Expansion League asking a delegation to confer with the executive of the Southland Progress League.