TE AWAMUTU COURIER Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays FRIDAY, 7th JUNE, 1946 ACCESS TO KAWHIA

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6239, 7 June 1946, Page 4

TE AWAMUTU COURIER Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays FRIDAY, 7th JUNE, 1946 ACCESS TO KAWHIA

EVERYBODY will endorse the endeavours of the Kawhia district to secure better access between the irterial .communications and the west<- n 'eaboard districts; but, de--p:ie ’he des' n to make early progress. fix. p< ; 'e will subscribe to 'ritL.'-m • rhe Works Ministry and • he officer. l of the Public Works Dena i tn. ent Mr Semple has undertaken a preparatory survey, and his officers are diligently striving to find a way over the Pirongia ranges that will best conform with the national standards of highway construction, thus best serving the locality requirements. But there is some impatience, and although it is recognised how heavily handicapped the district is •.; * presort tortuous road-link ..i’< : is »» verthccss true that cannot speed or even . ... ~ ution of the problems at partial straightening of th • pre. ent road should be i-onsidereu uggests the narrow and impatient view rather than the practical and permanent anticipation of the district’s need. True that the road as it is is classed as one of the worst feeder routes in New Zealand to-day. and that a continuous injury ■< being done in a community of interest which stretches wide over the territory eastward and westward of the Pirongia ranges, it is just as true that hasty or ill-considered action should be restrained; for it is apparent that a whole series of major deviation? would be required to bring any of the existing road routes even approximately within the standards of a modern highway. Moreover, the district claim is not well served by the reminder that an abandoned bridge stands as evidence of a variable highway policy—discrediting Mr Sempie or any earlier administration —because that bridge was never on the route of an officially proposed highway. There is an essential difference between a settlement road and a State highway—a fact which cannct be too widely recognised. The district is not well served by the reminder that not only the bridge in question but also land settlement was halted for the ven,’ reason that settlement did not proceed as anticipated. What matters now is that Mr Semple has promised to make a thorough engineering survey over a wide area to find what can become a route in the national highways system. Not only has he pledged his promise: the survey is actually being made. Moreover, Mr Semple can be relied upon to set aside every parochial consideration, using all the knowledge at his command in the location and adoption of a route which will best serve the local and national interests. The problem is not an easy one. The Pirongia rages are a natural obstacle, and building of a new highway will be a major work when it is undertaken. In any case, at this stage the engineering aspect is in capable hands, and nobody could better be entrusted with the task than Mr S r iiple For the people, however, th*»re are other responsibilities in the lution of economic aspects which nd very purposeful endeayand it is urgently necessary that concentrated effort should be proceeding now. To what extent can better aid the development of ees in the Kawhia iistrict ? Land tenure and the avail>ll: of land> for new settlement; • <- orient and utilisation of mineral ; osits that are known to exist; the •rope and extent of possible harbour devolpment are among the questions which people who have a first-hand

knowledge of the locality should be investigating, because it can be assured that Mr Semple is much too practical in all aspects of highway development to content himself with the conclusion of an engineering survey, and he will require the proofs that new construction will be the forerunner of economic development before he embarks upon a major work. At this time particularly, when so much in maintenance and so many undertakings stand deferred, will more than the desire for a new highway be required. That there are latent resources in the Kawhia district is freely recognised, but it is the ability and the courage of the people to gain the utilisation of those resources that must be established. This at least can be said: Mr Semple will do his part; it is for the people to do theirs. It serves nobody to stand in contemplation or criticism of the past; nothing is gained by complaining about what is unquestionably one of the worst roads in New Zealand to-day. Mr Semple is searching for a new route capable of being made worthy of the name of highway; but the people must search for the means that will make a highway possible.