Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Wednesday 20 October 1920, page 12


PRINCE'S HIGHWAY.

ROAD TO MELBOURNE. OFFICIAL OPENING.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

BULLI, Tuesday.

The Prince's Highway—the road to Mel-

bourne, via the South Coast—was officially opened and named yesterday by the Minister for Local Government (Mr. T. D. Mutch).

A picturesque spot, in the vicinity of the

Bulli Pass Lookout, was chosen for the cere-mony. The portion of the road selected for

the function commands a splendid panoramic view of the ocean and several South Coast

towns. The visitors who travelled by train to Bulli and on to the Lookout by car were not so fortunate as those who journeyed by car from Sydney. A couple of the cars which at-

tempted the steep climb—1100ft—from Bulli to the Lookout broke down, and among those who had to walk were the Federal Minister for Works and Railways (Mr. Groom), who

was accompanied by Mrs. Groom. But they appeared to enjoy the experience.

Soon after the naming ceremony steady rain commenced to fall, and it was decided to abandon the toast list at the luncheon, which was held in the open. The ladies sought the shelter of the cars, while the other visitors gathered under a spacious tree and listened

to several informal speeches by the Ministers and others interested in the good roads move-

ment.

The suggestion that the old "top road" on

the South Coast should be named the Prince's Highway was made by the National Roads Association. The Bulli Shire Council, which was communicated with, endorsed the pro-

posal. No alterations or improvements have so far been made, but it is hoped to plant

an avenue of trees along the highway right to the border. The Prince's Highway runs

through Gippsland to Melbourne, and is re-garded as the favourite road to the Victorian

capital.

Those present at yesterday's function in ad-

dition to the Ministers and their wives were Mr. Garlick (Under-Secretary for Local Go-

vernment), Councillor J. T. Wall, and repre-sentatives from Nowra, Shellharbour, Kiama, Berry, and Wollongong.

After being welcomed by Councillor W. H. Tresidder (president of the Bulli Shire), Mr.

Groom said that the naming of the road the Prince's Highway was a pleasing tribute to

his Royal Highness. The Prince of Wales

had captured the hearts of the Australian people and by his gracious manner he had

already made a highway to the hearts of the people. (Applause.)

Mr. Mutch, in naming the road, said he had travelled over practically the whole of New South Wales by train, on foot, and by cycle,

but he knew of no road more beautiful in the whole of his Australian travels than the Prince's Highway. (Applause.) The Aus-tralian people did not realise what a mag-

nificent asset they had in their coastal scen-ery. (Applause.)

Mrs. Mutch, amid cheers, cut a piece of light blue ribbon which had been stretched

across the road.

At an al fresco lunch, over which Council-lor W. H. Tresidder presided, Mr. Groom said that what he had seen in the district had im-

pressed him very much indeed. What he had seen on the previous day at Port Kembla had made him feel very proud indeed of the Australian workman. (Applause.) No nation would become great that did not possess coal and iron, and also large industries. (Ap-

plause.) Coal and iron were at the basis of civilised life. "You have in this district," he concluded, "permanent conditions of a great

future." (Applause.)

Mr. Mutch, who had an enthusiastic recep-tion, began with a humorous reference to the working day of the average Minister. He said that they worked 44 hours a day. There were 22 actual hours, with two days' work

in each day, and they had not got a rise. (Laughter and applause.) The Prince's High-way reminded him of the Lincoln Highway, from New York to San Francisco—3223 miles long. That road stretched from the Atlan-tic to the Pacific. More than two-thirds of

it was actually constructed. He was glad Mr. Groom was present, because he wished to express the opinion that the Federal authorities should make a definite contri-bution to the States or local authorities to-wards the cost of national highway. None of

the highways in the United States was less

than 68ft wide.

New South Wales had got ahead of Vic-toria in the naming of the highway, the Min-ister continued, but within a few weeks the Victorians would name their section. But he would remind the people of New South Wales that the Victorians were doing some-

thing practical. They were organising work-ing bees. Something like that should be done by New South Wales. (Applause.) It they

could organise half the working population of the South Coast district to give one day to-wards improving the Prince's Highway, he would bring along a pick and shovel and do some work himself. (Applause.) During the

present session he would introduce the Main Roads Bill, which would apply first of all to the metropolitan area. Next session he would

extend that bill to include the country areas of the State. The Government intended to complete the work of repairing the Parra-matta-road. (Applause.) Although the muni-cipalities would not come to an agreement regarding that work it would be completed by Christmas. (Applause.)

On behalf of the National Roads' Associa-tion Mr. G. R. W. McDonald, M.L.C., pre-sented to Mrs. Mutch the scissors with which she had previously cut the ribbon. In a happy response, Mrs. Mutch said that next time she visited the Prince's Highway she

hoped to hear the axes ringing. (Applause.)