BETTER ACCESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1924, Page 7

BETTER ACCESS.

WHANGAMOMONA SADDLE. METAL TO BE PROVIDED START IN FEBRUARY.

(From Our Special Reporter.) Whangamomona, Last Nigu%. The work of metalling the Whanga* momona Saddle is to be put in hand by the Government and it is I.oped to have supplies of metal available by the exid of February. The Minister for PuJblic Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates), who is in Whangamomona to-night, states that the necessity for immediate improvement of the road is recognised and it is understood that the Main Highways Board i«3 arranging for the issue of an authority of £5OO for immediate expenditure in re-formin" and othewise improving this section of the road during the coining summer.

A deputation of settlers, headed by Mr. Arthur Coxliead, waited on the Minister to-night in connection with the matter. This spokesman referred to the big drawback of lack of access, and pointed out that as stockmen the saddle was most important to settlers. More, oyer buyers objected to the delay neees* sitated by travelling by train and when the saddle was impassable simply would not visit the district. The deputation also pointed .o-ut" the likelihood of future slips and the consequent postponement of stoek sales.

Mr. Coates: How about if we rui a train to suit your sales? It was agreed that such a procedure would help, but would not obviate the main difficulty. Mr. G. .Stockwell drew attention tc the hardships occasioned tv the sick anc injured during the '"blockage, and assured the Minister that more than one life was lost owing to the impassable condition of the. road. Mr. Coates said the best he could de was to see the chairman of the Main Highways Board, under whose jurisdiction the road was.

Mr. T. M. Bal] (district Public Worku engineer) pointed out that only limited quantities of metal could be brought in,' but Mr. Coates said the job was urgent and counties whieh had goocUroads would simply have to wait.

Mr. Ball then said he would endeavour to deliver metal supplies by the end of February, and he asked that the Whangamcmona County Council should send in their proposals as soon as po«sible.