HAAST PASS ROAD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20509, 29 August 1936, Page 21

HAAST PASS ROAD

CONSTRUCTION CONDEMNED By Telegraph Press Association INVERCARGILL, August 27. The recent decision to construct She continuation of the West Coast Road over the Haast Pass to Pembroke as opposed to the original suggestion was condemned at a meeting of the Southland Progress League to-night. The former suggestion, which was keenly advocated by West Coast people, was that the road should run from Webeka past the mouth of the Haast River down the coast to Jackson’s Bay and thence via Big Bay and Lake McKerrow to Milford Sound. The subject was raised in a letter from Mr Eric James, of Dunedin, who described the decision to proceed with the Haast Pass road in preference to the greater proposition of linking the Westland road system with the new Milford Road as one of the greatest blunders of recent years. Mr D. J. Wesney said that the Milford road would open up some splendid farming country, while the Haast Pass road led only to a bleak hinterland. Mr J. H. Tattersfield suggested that a strong protest from the League ad ocating that the Coast road should take precedence over the Haast Pass road on account of its prior importance might have effect. It was decided to draft a letter to the Minister of Public Works containing a strong expression of the League’s opinion in the matter.