GORGE ROAD.

Waipawa Mail, Volume L, Issue 104, 27 May 1929, Page 3

GORGE ROAD.

NATIONAL UNDERTAKING. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER FOR PUBLIC AYORKS. PALMERSTON N., Last night. A deputation from interested local bodies was favorably received by the Minister for Public AVorks (Hon. E. A. Ransom) when it waited upon him yesterday afternoon, seeking to be relieved of their loan liabilities in connection with the Manawatu Gorge road. Speaking on behalf of the contributors to the road, Mr S. Bolton (Pahiatua) stated that although the Main Highways Board had taken over the maintenance of” the road, it was asked that the Government take over the whole of the loan indebtedness involved. That course had been followed with the road connecting the east and west coasts of the South Island. In view of the danger of the road a Board of Control was set up. “AA r e were too rash,” said Mr Bolton. “If we had left it till to-day we would have received £1 for £1 subsidy, instead of the 6s in the £1 we received.” The road was not merely a local one, and they considered they were justified in asking the Government to take it over a.s a national undertaking. There was £33,034 involved in the total loans raised, the whole of the work of the road havingcost over £51,000, of which over £15,000 had been advanced by the Government. “I assure you that it is not necessary for yon to state your case to get my sympathies; you have always had them,” said Mr Ransom, in replying to the deputation. He considered they were perfectly justified in bringing up the question of capital charges, but the difficulty would arise in the danger of establishing a precedent, as boroughs with under 6000 population were making similar requests in respect of through roads, and he had been beseiged with applications of that nature in Taranaki. Once they opened the door it would be difficult to stop the rush. He was in sympathy with the deputation, however, and would submit the representations made in the form of a report to the Main Highways Board, and at the first opportunity would discuss the position with the chairman of the Board.