TOURIST ROAD ADVOCATED

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1929, Page 13

TOURIST ROAD ADVOCATED

SCENERY ON WEST COAST MOVE JN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TRACK ACROSS WESTERN OTAGO. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Hon. G M. Thomson gave notice in the Legislative Council to-day to introduce a Captive Birds Shooting Prohibition Bill. The Associated Churches of Christ Church Property Bill was read a second time. Sir Thomas Mackenzie moved that in the opinion of the Council the great advantages that would be derived by the Dominion from the development of New Zealand’s grand scenic resources would warrant the Government in taking into consideration the work of linking up by a road suitable for wheeled traffic the cast and west coats of Otago, via the Greenstone, Holyford and Cleddan Rivers. Sir Thomas said he referred to that part of the country as one of the undeveloped assets of the Dominion. There was not a track across to the west coast fit fop a mule, and it was a serious reflection on the Dominion that there was no means of communication to the natural port on the west coast. The cost of constructing the road had been estimated some years ago at £41,000, but it might cost £lOO,OOO to-day. In Norway he had seen fine roads through country worse than that of the unexplored regions of Otago. The Hon. A. F. Hawke seconded the

motion, remarking that he understood

the work could be done for £40,000, according to plans drawn up by the Public Works Department. The Leader of the Council, the Hon.

T. K. Sidey, said he had had the matter referred to the Public Works Department and he had authority to say .it was intended to provide a substantial sum on this year’s Estimates in order to link up by road Milford Sound and Lake Wakatipu, via the rivers named in the motion. This wonk' not be for a motor road but for a track similar to the Milford track.

The Hon. W. Earnshaw expressed the belief that jt would pay to construct a proper motor road, but a boat should also be put on to take passengers from Milford to other sounds. A proper bitumen road should be laid as the only economic means of access.

The Hon. G J. Garland advocated spending £5OOO a mile on a concrete road, but this was regarded as unjustifiable by the Hon, D. T. Fleming and Sir James Allen. Tho Hon. A. S. Malcolm stressed the value of the proposal from tho tourist point of view, and the Hon. G. M. Thomson urged the opening up of Otago and tho West Coast in all directions by means of tracks. Sir Francis Bell strongly deprecated urging tourists to come to New Zealand because of the wealth that would accrue to the country.

Tho motion was passed and the Coun cil adjourned at 4.15 p.m. until 2.30 p.m to-morrow.