INLAND WATERWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1889, 18 October 1913, Page 14

INLAND WATERWAYS.

AUCKLAND PROPOSAL

ROYAL COMMISSION URGED.

A largo deputation, representing various local bodies in the Auckland province, from Kaipara to the King Country, waited upon the Prime Minister yesterday morning for tho purpose. of conveying a request from a recent conference in Auckland for tho appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the question of the development of tho various waterways, including the constnijotion of connecting oanals in the Auckland district. Tho deputation, which was introduced by Mr. A.. M. Myers, M.P., was (beaded by tho chairman of tho Auokland harbour Board (Mr. J. H. Gunson). Most of the' Auckland members of the House of Representatives were also present. Tlie members of the deputation, stated that tho various local bodies represented at tho conference were unanimous in the opinion that the time had arrived when a scheme for the utilisation of these waterways should bo taken in hand. There, was a want of unanimity as to the routes and methods, hut' all were of opinion that, it was desirable that a Royal Commission should be appointed to collect tho data necessary for the formation of a 60und judgment upon the subject. The question of competition between the waterways and tho railway was mentioned, but it was urged that this should not be allowed to weigh with the Government. Mr. J. Bollard, M.P., said that in considering tho question of tho smaller canals between the Waikato and the Manukau and tho Auckland Harbour, and between the' last-named and the Kaipara (all of which are involved ill the scheme), the question of deepwater communication between the Auckland and Manukau harbours should be considered particularly in view of tho completion of the Panama Canal. Mr. Massey: That is the most important matter of all. Mr. Bollard said that a prominent Ailierican engineer had turned his attention to this question, and if reasonable concessions were granted by tho Government, he believed, that two or three millions of moniy would be spent oh. tlhe work. He did not say that the concession's should bo granted but ho mentioned; tho matter to show the attention that had been given to it. Mr. Massey, in his reply, said that as an Auckl&nder himself ho knew something of tho potentialities of the districts affected by this question, and he wa« oertain that in years to oomo good uso would be mado of theso waterways. As membor for Franklin ho had taken a great interest in the question, and some years ago he induced; the then Government to obtain a report as to tho cost of a canal from the Waikato to the Manukau. This report showed that the approximate cost of a canal giving four feet of water at the Waiuku end was £100,000. Nothing had been done, as at that time it was felt that such a canal would not be of very great uso until a / canal between tho Manukau and the Waitemata. had been constructed. This would make it possible for boats and barges to run right through from the Waikato to, the Auokland wharves. Sinco assuming office he had 1 appointed ono of tho Government engineers to collect data as to cost of deepening the Waikato River and draining the adjacent swamp from Mercer southward. He, however, regretted to say that the result of the engineer's inquiries so far as they had already gone had proved somewhat disappointing, there not being sufficient fall , between _ Mercer and ..the sea to enable the river to be deepened sufficiently. As to the question of the waterways coming into comnetition with the railways he did not think that that should be considered. The development of the waterways {Jhould have tho effect of producing moro business both for the railway, and the canals. (Hear, hear.) Ho did not think that the'request for a Royal Commission was an unreasonable one. It, however, was a matter for Cabinet rather than for an individual Minister, but he could promise them that their Tequest would be placed before with his (Mr. Massey's) recommendation, and ho had not the, slightest doqbt that it would be. granted. (Hear, hear.) If a commission were appointed it would bo a commission of experts who would understand tho subject thoroughly, and bo ablo to report exhaustively upon' tho merits of the scheme. That was all that ho could say at present.