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LINK ALL STATES
Plan for Network of
Strategic Roads
DARWIN, Tuesday.-Construction of
all-weather strategic highwdiys linking
every Australian State is believed to be
under consideration by the Commonwealth
Government.
The purpose of the roads would be to
facilitate the transport of troops and
suppliec in the event of an emergency.
The road between Alice Springs and
Birdum has already linked the north
and south.
The announcement last week of the
construction of an all-weather road from
lit. Isa. Queensland,. to Tennant's
Creek, is believed to be a further step.
Following completion of the Mt. Isa
Tennant's Creek road, it was hinted that
an all-weather road between Kalgoorlie
and Port Aususta would be constructed.
There would possibly also be a road be
tween Broken Hill and Alice Springs.
Spur lines linking mainl State roads and
highwirays would also be constructed.
It is understood the military authlori
ties are anxious to have the Alice Springs
-Birdum road extended to Darwin. Work
on this may begin after the wet season.
In wet weathler, thie road between Bir
dum and Darswin is ispassable. 'The only
link between the two centres under theseo
conditions is a single narrow-gasge railway
line.
Tihe Quartermaster-General (Miajor
General IH. A. Cannon), who recently re
turned from a tour of inspection throughl
Central Australia, expressed tomplcte
satisfaction with the north-south road.
Now that this road Ihas proved a suc
cess, military authorities urige its con
tinuation to the Davrwin end.
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