MAIN ROAD DEVIATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXX, Issue 20165, 20 July 1935, Page 18

MAIN ROAD DEVIATION

To the Editor ot “ The Timaru Herald " Sir,—As a resident of Geraldine, I am naturally deeply interested in our controversy with the Highways Board, concerning the route of the proposed road southwards from the old railwa-y bridge across the Rangitata. At the big public meet last night, the speakers stressed their approval of the purchase of this bridge, for the use of road traffic, thus stressing their consciousness of the need and value of two road-bridges over this river. Mr Talbot repeatedly said how very well supplied with roads is the district round Geraldine, and also how importit is to have a direct “through route” from the north to the Bluff. He also stressed the importance of having the main roads along the railway lines. This latter statement is difficult to understand. No one drew attention to the grave risk entailed by having main roads and railways adjacent, in these days of possible danger of aerial attack. Road access to railways is important, but it is not' necessary to have the main roads so placed. Mr Baldwin has recently warned England, that she can no longer be rendered immune to attack from the air, still less so can New Zealand be in these days of aircraft carriers, etc. With our one railway line and the main road moved so close to an open coast, it. almost seems asking for trouble, should war really occur. Again; if the Main Highways Board has so much money to spend, why is no mention made of the strange state of affairs (for an up-to-date country) in connection with the Rakaia Bridge? Here there is a bridge on the main highway that has to serve

the railway, motor traffic, other vehicular traffic, pedestrians, sheep, cattle, etc. Much is said about the saving of time on the main highway by reducing its length by a few miles, but nothing is said (to Geraldine folk at any rate), of the delays so very frequently occurring on this bridge: delays caused by normal traffic of all sorts, or by breakdowns of vehicles on the bridge itself, which do occur on the bridge as well as on the open roads. Suppose this old bridge to be damaged in any way by age, ordinary accident, or by aerial attack. What about any sort of through services then? (Of course there is the Rakaia Gorge Bridge, but that is far out of the way, and so exposed to violent winds, as to be often extremely unpleasant to cross—whether or not actually dangerous. I do not know). If these two bridges over the Rakaia could be built in old days over this great river, surely it is about time that another be built to serve road traffic only. If this is not at present financially possible, what about saving money for this purpose, instead of spending it on yet another road—and one leaving Geraldine aside from the main highway? Before the Great War, for many years Britain had believed herself immune from bombardment. During the War she found herself bombarded both from the sea and the air. How long will New Zealand continue to believe herself safe from aerial attack? Thanking you for your interest in regard to the welfare and national value of such little country towns as Geraldine.—l am, etc., ANOTHER CITIZEN. Geraldine, July 16.