ACCESS TO KEW HOSPITAL

Southland Times, Issue 24161, 25 June 1940, Page 3

ACCESS TO KEW HOSPITAL

REQUEST FOR TAR SEALING

CONSIDERED ' The condition of the Kew road between Elies road and the Bluff road was discussed by the South Invercargill Borough Council at its meeting last night. The subject was raised in a letter received from the Automobile Association (Southland), stating that the general committee of the association felt that in view of the increasing amount of traffic using this road, which was the main approach to the hospital, steps should be taken to have it widened and tar-sealed and also to have a footpath constructed. The Mayor (Mr Owen Smith), said that the road had been a bone of contention for many years and he did not think that the association realized the position. Since the hospital had been erected, there had been many times as much traffic on the road which increased the maintenance costs. The council had no plant with which to tarseal the road and could not afford to have it done. The hospital was not a South Invercargill institution, it was a Southland institution. The council had never received any benefit from the erection of the hospital, only increased liability. The only way the problem could be solved was for all local bodies to contribute to the cost. Cr O. H. Paton said that little could be done until the inner ward of the borough came into the city. It should be a matter for the Invercargill City Council to deal with.

The Mayor said the entrance to the hospital was in the wrong place. An access road should have been put through from the Bluff road. The council cbuld only obtain money to carry out the necessary improvement by adding 3d to the rates, and the ratepayers would not accept that. It was decided to reply to the association pointing out that the council was just as anxious to see the road put in order as was the association, but that it was not in a position to effect the improvement.