METALLED ACCESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 133, 7 June 1934, Page 4

METALLED ACCESS

UPPER WAITOTARA REGION THE SETTLERS GRATEFUL TRIBUTES TO PUBLIC WORKS During the past two and a-half years Government sources have provided approximately £34,500 for the Waitotara Vallqy and Makakaho A alley roads, money which has brought to a grateful populace all-weather routes in place of the muddy tracks of long ago. To voice its appreciation of what had been done, the settlers of tho two valleys mentioned met tho .Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. Bitchener), at luncheon yesterday. In a short tuast list speakers paid tribute to the work of the Public AVorks engineers, to relief workers and to local bodies for the respective parts played in giving access to country already too heavily burdened to pay for metal from its own resources. To quote the chairman of the gathering, Mr. F. K. Pearce, the old road w r ould never be forgotten, but the new one in its place, by giving sure access all the year round, would, create better farming, would encourage more people to remain on the land and wduld make happier their lot. Accompanied by Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P. for Patea, and Mr. P. Keller, district Public Works engineer, tho Minister was motored to Mr. F. K.

Pearce’s woolshed on the Makakaho Road, was taken over the upper portion of the AVaitotara Valley Road latpr, as far as Taumatatahi, and brought back to the Makakaho junction for luncheon. Members of the party were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. F. K. Pearce to morning tea. Tho day was calm and crisp. Modern cars, throe of them practically new, plied tho roads quite easily and those of tho visitors who remembered tho rough access of days not long ago, when it was difficult for even horse traffic to negotiate tho route, were greatly impressed with the change. As for the settlers, they appeared to be still uncertain of whether the metal surface was rcallv true or just a vision in a dream, at the end of which would come an inevitable waking up to the nightmares of reality which the road of old had cast upon those who had tested its moods in the depth of winters of the past. The party included Mr. AV. Morrison, a member of the Main Highways Board and chairman of the AVaitotara County Council. Mr. AV. G. Belton (chairman), and members of the Patea County Council, Mr. T. Dlx, engineer to the AVaitotara County, Mr. Anderson, engineer to the Patea County. Mr. Sampson, Public AVorks engineer. AVanganui, and Mr. F. Hermans, Publie AVorks overseer. AVanganui. Mr. Pearce presided at the, luncheon and was supported by Mr. J. Peat, member for the Kapara Riding on the Patea County, and by Mr. A. J. Larsen. The Public Works Department Proposing the toast of the Public Works Department, Mr. Pearce said that the object of the gathering was to cxpiess the gratitude of the settlers for the road. They wanted to thank all those who had assisted to bring the metalled road into existence, most oi all tho Public AVorks Department. They all realised that in putting a road through such as that, a Minister could not look at it in the same light as a business proposition that was to immediately return so much interest. He had to realise that th c results belonged to tho future. There were several ways in which the road would benefit the district and would justify tho expenditure on it. In place of tho indifferent two-day a week mail service, the settlers now had a regular three-day a week service. That meant more revenue for the Postal Department and, in addition, it would be able to run the better service for about half the cost of the previous one. Better access would mean better farming, in that cream and fat lambs would be got away to market exactly when they wero ready. That had not been possible over thc old road. A more indirect benefit the new road would bring would be that of keeping a fair population on tho land. The class of country the road tapped was productive provided labour was expended on it. Families had to stay on the land and the road, by giving them better access to amusements, to medical assistance, to civilisation generally, would make their lives happier in a region which, hitherto, had been cut off from the outside world in the winter. Those people would live a healthier life in the country. Work of the Engineers Continuing, Mr. Pearce paid tribute to the Public AVorks engineers, whose work had been made harder by the employment of labour which had had to be instructed in work it was not used to. He particularly mentioned Mr. P. Keller, to whose foresight the relief workers owed a great deal. Mr. Keller had met the settlers and as tho result of what he had done the lot of the relief workers had been made much easier in that district. There were two matters which Mr. Pearce wished thc Minister to consider. (1) The advisability of declaring the road a main highway from the AVaitotara County boundary to Ngamatapouri, and (2) the advisability of continuing the formatx, PlpiriTri up Wav-

crlcy with Raetihi and establish a through route from South Taranaki to thc Tokaanu and centre of the island regions. Mr. Pearce, in support of the first request, said that thc settlers were rated to the oxtent of 12d in the £, id in the £ special rates and had contributed to tho main highway in the front of the county to the extent of id in the £ every year. In support of the other matter, he said that good work to relieve unemployment was difficult to find and what was advocated to link the district up witn the AVanganui River would be better than chipping weeds off the streets. Engineers Not Politicians In his reply to the toast, which was honoured enthusiastically, the Minister said that he was pleased to be picsent at such a happy gathering. He was a local body man huusolf and felt at home. He could endorse all the chair‘nian had said about the Public Works engineers. “Mistakes have been made in ihe past,” said Mr. Bitchener, “ but you. cannot lay the blame for those at tho door of tno engineers. They were political mistakes, shall we say, and the Public Works engineers have never been politicians.” (Applause). Proceeding, the Minister said that thc policy of his department, since he had taken charge was to expend as much money as possible on metalling roads to the back country. He thought that that work would result in greater benefits than any other. His hearers had to remember, however, that there were many areas throughout New Zealand which were in exactly the same position as the Upper -Waitotara had been before tho metalling of the road. Therefore, the iequest to continue th« metalling on to the Wanganui Rivei would have to stand over for a time. Tho question of declaring the road a main Highway could be looked into, but the Minister said that it was imperative that local bodies should do their very best to maintain tho asset they had had created. He was fully aware of the difficulties county councils had to face, but in view of the vast amount of money which had been spent on metalling he felt sure they would do their best as regards maintenance. Tho back country did not want Lambton -Quays or Hutt Roads, but it was best for those responsible to look tfl* the maintenance under a policy of a “stitch in time saves nine.” He had always preached that. Mr. Bitcheuei added that the Public AVorks funds had been considerably cut down and all h< had for road maintenance all over Nevi Zealand .was £lO,OOO. That was spent almost before he knew a shilling of it had gone. “1 hope the local bodies will do their best to maintain th© asset made for them,” the Minister stressed again, and concluded by pay* ing tribute to the vast amount of work the country was indebted to the unem* ployed for. Mr. P. Jxellpr also replied to the toast. Ho said that a great deal of the credit for thc valley roads was due to Mr. Hermans, who had straightened out many of the knotty problems. Mr. Pearce’s suggestion that the road be declared a main highway could be placed before the District Highways Council, but the question w’ould ultimately be raised as to what road, already a highway, the Patea County was prepared to forego. Other toasts honoured were “Local Bodies,” proposed by Mr. A. L. Larsen and replied to by Mr. AV. G. Belton (Patea County) and Mr. AV. Morrison (Waitotara County and Main High- i ways Board); “The Member for Patea” (Mr. H. G. Dickie), proposed by Mr. A. Jones and replied to by- Mr. Dickie. Th e Minister left in the mid-after-noon for New Plymouth, where ha OpenAfl the ’Wint-Ar Rhnw l«*t