TAIHAPE-NAPIER ROAD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 60, 12 March 1942, Page 1

TAIHAPE-NAPIER ROAD.

DELAY IN CONSTRUCTION j, CRITICISM BY COUNTY COUNCIL The condition of the TaihapeNapier road was the subject of criticism at a meedng of the Hawke’s Bay r County Council on Monday, when a letter was received j from the Minister of Public Works, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, stating that he had not time to inspect the road, but the metalling of it was being begun.; “The road was asked for urgently as a military road, and yet it is impassable with half an hour’s rain ” said the chairman. Mr. R. Harding. "The road is in an alarming state, and I suggest that the engineer and Cr. E. 11. Beamish and myself, Together with Major-General Sir An- j drew Russell, if possible, should go to Wellington and bring the matter under the notice of the Minister. The matter should be treated urgently.” In reply to a previous letter from the county, the Prim * Minister also wrote stating that the representations made by the county would receive careful consideration. “When we previously discussed this question, we asked the Press to treat c it as in committee, but I think thei* time has now arrived when the pub- • lie should know the County Council’s views on this road" said Mr. Harding. “Contracts were let and the work ’ was supposed to have been done by last December, but the work is no- | where near finished. The road is in a shocking condition. There are no | water tables, the culverts are tool small, and many are in the wrong : nlace, and the metalling is far from idonw Something is wrong, either with the supervision or lh° carrying out of the work. The Minister says he has , no time to come through, but if he ; can’t he should send someone ; lean. With half an hour’s rain this ! I mad will be blocked and the whole [position is very unsatisfactory. “It staggers me to think that the [Minister of Public Works cannol find time tn come and see an important [work like this." said Mr. E. A. Beam-, ish. "The Minister’s letter stated that j line work is going on. but has it not been going on for months. I visited [ [the road one Saturday and I say for | la fact that two bulldozers were not . [working and one of two lorries [knocked off at 2 p.m. Arrangements [were made for two other lorries to go j out last Wednesday. One took seven > I loads of metal and then the loader j broke down, so the lorries wont back ho Hastings. The Prime Minister gave the people an assurance last night that j nothing would be allowed to stand in j [the way of our war effort, but the I 1 [time has come for plain speaking, and | I say there is a lot standing in the way of our war effort in regard tn this road. Miles of reconstruction 'work have been done on it and there ■ is no meta! within cooee of it. The [ whole thing has been bungled from ! [end to end. That is my opinion.” I 11 was decided to contact the Min-[ ister by telephone, and. failing al satisfactory answer, that a deputation I should go to Wellington.