Roads

[1890]  . . . Mr. H. E. Downer again urged the Treasurer to consider the claims of Kangaroo Island to main roads. There were a large number of settlers there. (The Commissioner of Public Works—" It produces excellent barley.") It did, and he hoped that testimony of the Commissioner of Public Works would be remembered. Those districts which had no main roads should be treated more liberally when the funds at the disposal for roads were being distributed. The Treasurer in the past had in some respects treated Kangaroo Island fairly liberally, but more, should be done for the settlers, who, in addition to having no main roads; had no telegraphs or jetties. . . .

Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), Saturday 27 December 1890, page 37  HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY. Thursday, December 18.

[1893]  Kangaroo Island Main Roads. — 

On Tuesday Messrs. H. E. Downer, ALP., and J. R. Kelly, M.P., waited upon the Treasurer on behalf of the Hog Bay District Council, and asked tor a special grant towards making an embankment and erecting a bridge at a steep place near the Council Chamber, on the main road. The deputation pointed out that the place was represented by the Council as almost impassable, and that all the traffic from Hog Bay to Cape Willoughby and American River must pass over this road. The Council also wanted assistance in making a piece of road near Mount Tisby, as the road there crossed a steep sandhill, which was quite impassable either on horseback or in vehicles. Those travelling that way were compelled to go over a settler's land. The deputation pointed out that owing to the small assistance originally granted towards roads on the island it was impossible for the Council out of the usual grant to make all the repairs, which were of pressing necessity; and they therefore asked the Treasurer to grant the Council a special grant of £150 of the current year's main-road vote. The Treasurer said at present he could not comply with the request of the deputation, but when the House had voted the money for main roads he would in the allocation of such vote consider the application, and, if possible, give the Council some assistance. The deputation thanked the Treasurer.

South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Wednesday 30 August 1893, page 6

[1907] . . . The Commissioner of Crown Lands said the hon. member [Mr. MacGillivray] should not take such articles too seriously.  [See http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208975896 concerning the state of the road from Western River to Kingscote ]

The roads on Kangaroo Island, and especially those referred to, were not used a great deal, but as the island became more thickly populated the roads would he improved.

Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), Wednesday 27 November 1907, page 1

[1909]  KANGAROO ISLAND ROADS.

KINGSCOTE, September 13.—The district council members were out inspecting roads last week, being away for three days. The roads are in a fearful condition, and the problem is when the council are to get stone. In fact, at the last meeting a resolution was adopted affirming that in their opinion it would be far cheaper for the Government to build a light line of railway than make macadamised roads.

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Wednesday 15 September 1909, page 12

[1917]  KANGAROO ISLAND ROADS.

Mr. G. R. Laffer, M.P., waited on the Commissioner of Crown Lands on Nov. 20 and introduced a deputation from the District Council of Dudley, who asked for a special grant of £100 to enable the council to fence the new deviation of the main road from Hog Bay to Antechamber Bay, so that it might be made available for traffic; for a grant of £100 for making three miles of road to connect Hog Bay with the south coast, direct; and for a special grant of £300 for the road from American River to the south coast, via Muston. The Commissioner stated that with regard to the first request a report would have to be obtained as to the grades of the old road, and the advisability of opening the deviation. He would have a report made with regard to the second request; and an inspection was already in hand in connection with the third matter. Messrs. G. R. Laffer, M.P., and G. Ritchie, M.IP., and Clayton (chairman of District Council of Yankalilla), waited upon the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Hon. H. Jackson) on November 16, with a request for a special road grant to repair the roads in their district, which were in a very bad state. The Commissioner replied that he would give the matter favorable consideration when making the allocation of the road grants in two or three weeks time.

Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Saturday 24 November 1917, page 33

[1924] KANGAROO ISLAND ROADS.

A deputation from the Dudley District Council (Kangaroo Island), introduced by Messrs. Heggaton, Hudd, and Laffer, M.P. s, waited on the Minister for Local Government (Hon. A. A. Kilpatrick) and requested financial assistance for certain roads in their district. The speakers -Crs. C. W. Hughes, E. S. Bates, and S. McArthur —asked that the grant for main roads should be increased from £300 to £600, also that ike Government should contribute £200 for work on Cave road, and £300 for the Kingscote American River road. A suggestion vas also made that the Government should consider the question of constructing a road across the island, in order to obviate the circuitous route which now had to be traversed between north and south. They pointed out that there were 100 motor cars on the island, and that the residents vote entirely dependent upon road travel, there being no other means of transit. The Minister, in reply, said the department recognised its responsibility toward the residents of Kangaroo Island, and had done every thing it could. He would refer their requests to the Roads Advisory Board.

Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 9 August 1924, page 35

[1932]  . . . Mr. Hudd (L.C.P) moved an amendment to reduce the registration fees for vehicles used exclusively on Kangaroo Island to 50 per cent. of the amount payable in other parts of the State. The Premier, in opposing the amendment, said that the amount of money spent in Kangaroo Island on roads was out of proportion to the revenue received for the registration of motor vehicles. Mr. Laffer (L.C.P.) pointed out that the Government was not contributing anything to the expenditure on roads. The money came from motorists. There were no railways on Kangaroo Island, yet the people on the island were called on to bear their proportion of the cost of railways in other parts of the State. They had also to contribute to the cost of public works elsewhere. The people were isolated, and in view of their disabilities, were worthy of consideration in the way proposed. The Premier asked where were they going to end in giving concessions to different sections of the community. He would be delighted to give concessions if they could be afforded. He did not deny that there was justice in the request. Mr. Laffer pointed out that there was not one person on public relief on Kangaroo Island. The amendment was rejected.

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Friday 4 November 1932, page 11

[1936]  KANGAROO ISLAND ROADS CRITICISED

"Some of the roads have been shockingly neglected, and motorists have a just cause for complaint," said the secretary of the Motor Transport Defence League (Mr. Longmate) after a visit to Kangaroo Island. He said that there were about 250 motor vehicles in use on the island, paying the Government £2,500 a year, of which sum practically nothing was spent on the roads. With the provision of good roads thousands of visitors would be attracted to the island.

Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954), Saturday 10 October 1936, page 12

[1936]  KANGAROO ISLAND ROADS
Special Grant By Government 

The decision of the Government to include the roads of Kangaroo Island in the five years' plan, and make a special grant of £1,500 a year over this period to the Kingscote Council for the surveying and building of roads was conveyed to members of the council last night by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Blesing). Appreciation of the Government's action was expressed by the chairman (Mr. F. Kasenhagen). Mr. Blesing arrived at Kingscote yesterday, accompanied by the Director of Agriculture (Mr. Spafford) and the Highways Commissioner (Mr. Fleming).  . . .

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Friday 4 December 1936, page 18

[1938]  KANGAROO ISLAND ROADS - RECONSTRUCTION DESIRED 

To the Editor

Sir — It was reported that the Kingscote Council intends to approach the Highways Department to experiment with cement penetration roads on Kangaroo Island. As the State holds the mineral leases of the salt lakes and much property there, and as the council have been approached by the local manager of the lakes about repairs to the roads from the lakes, would it not be wise for the Government to repair the road from the lakes with cement? It is doubtful whether the roads in their present state will see the salt harvest through, if the usual traffic is maintained. Kangaroo Island is one of the beauty spots of South Australia, and its roads should not be allowed to deteriorate. If councils have not the necessary funds to immediately proceed with the work, it should be attended to by the Highways Department.— I am. Sir. &c 

STANLEY C. H. PARTRIDGE. Hanson street. City.

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Tuesday 18 January 1938, page 22

From "Islander":—Kangaroo Island roads seem to cause the local councils concern when the claims of Kangaroo Island are being pressed upon the Government. Large grants for councils to spend would be considerably wasted unless some better system of overseeing is planned. Since I came here nearly twenty years ago, a vast mileage of roads has been washed away by rain, because of the lack of a draining system. A Government overseer for the whole island—a man with road experience—would mean a saving of money and much satisfaction to residents. A thorough inspection of district roads should be made annually.

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Tuesday 12 July 1938, page 22

[1953]  Kangaroo Island Roads

To the Editor

Sir— I must commend our parliamentary representative (Mr. Brookman) for drawing the attention of the Minister of Works (Mr. McIntosh) to the deplorable state of the road between Kingscote and Penneshaw. The Minister's reply, however, was somewhat misleading. There has never been sufficient money granted to keep this road in anything like proper order. The Minister says available funds have not been expended by the councils concerned. This may be so, and comes about from the fact that funds have been spread over the whole year so as to keep the road just passable, whereas, if it had been spent so as to keep the road in good order, it would probably have, been expended in six months or less and left the road quite impassable for six months or more. The Government has a responsibility for this road and if it cannot have it bitumenised at present, sufficient funds should be made available, to keep it in reasonable order in the meantime. It is the only road between the principal townships of the island. 

EDWARD L. BATES. Penneshaw.

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Wednesday 2 December 1953, page 4