COMPLETION OF ROAD

Southland Times, Issue 24106, 20 April 1940, Page 10

COMPLETION OF ROAD

Mataura To Clinton

RATEPAYERS ASK FOR WORK TO BE DONE A petition signed by 17 ratepayers and asking that the council immediately complete formation and metalling of the Mataura-Clinton road was considered by the Southland County Council at its meeting yesterday. “Within approximately two years from the time (February 13, 1937) when the subsidy was offered approximately two miles and a-half of the road was done, but since that was done there has been no further work on the road,” stated the petition. “The result is that because there remains two miles and a-half to be formed and metalled we cannot use the road for the purpose of access to Mataura. This was the purpose for which the subsidy was made available and that purpose is being defeated through the failure of the council to complete the remainder of the road. “We understand that the failure of the council to complete the road is due to the fact that Mr Trapski, the member for the riding, is opposed to the completion and that because the road is in Mr Trapski’s riding the other members of the council will not overrule him. In other words, it appears that in consequence of the practice resulting from the operation of the riding system the council as a whole will not consider the matter on its merits. ALTERNATIVE ROUTE “The completion of the remaining two miles and a-half of road will provide a first-class metalled road from Mataura to Clinton. This will provide a good alternative route from Mataura and ail parts south of Mataura to Clinton and all parts north of Clinton. This route is approximately 10 miles shorter than the main road. Access also would be provided by a very much shorter route than the present to the Catlins district. In these respects the completion of the work is of importance to the public generally. “The completion of the work will shorten the route from the Otaraia district to Mataura by six miles. Mr Trapski's attitude is that this is not material to the settlers in the district. He says that they have access from Pukerau and Gore. Surely the settlers themselves know better than does Mr Trapski what is of most advantage to them. Most of the fat lambs from the district are conveyed to the freezing works at Mataura, and it has to be remembered that the flocks in the district are substantial. The cost of transport of lambs is Id a head greater than it would be were the road completed. Convenient access to Mataura is important also having regard to the stock sales held at that town and the obtaining of supplies of coal from there. “Should the council decide not to complete the work we should appreciate being informed of the reasons for such decision,” the petition concluded. “As far as we can see there is no reason for not completing the work which would not have been a reason for not starting it.” ENGINEER’S REPORT The report of the engineer (Mr G. R, Milward), a copy of which was forwarded to the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) in December, and the reply received from the Minister in January were read. The Minister stated that when he had made additional investigations he would advise the council of the result. That reply is awaited by the council. In his report the engineer stated: “With the sealing of the State highway, we are now of the opinion that as a through traffic road, the MatauraClinton road has very little claim. As regards an access road, this two mile and a-half uncompleted stretch has no merits. There is no homestead on the length, and Mr Herron, who was one of the advocates in having it completed, already has a gravelled road to his gate from the Kaiwera road. The settlers to the east have a gravelled road access through Kaiwera, and the completion of the two mile and a-half gap would merely give them a shorter route if journeying to Mataura, but it is not an essential access.

“Under the original arrangements, the council completed that portion of the Mataura-Clinton road about two miles in length west of the Islay Station road, so that traffic journeying from Mataura to Clinton could travel on a gravelled road for the whole of the length by detouring through Kaiwera, which would involve an extra three miles of travelling in a distance of about 30 miles. This work cost £126/1/7 and the subsidy for £2 for £1 has been paid.”