MELLING BRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1934, Page 9

MELLING BRIDGE

EIVEE BOARD ATTITUDE

IS THE WORK NECESSARY?

CONFERENCE SUGGESTED

Closely connected with the proposal to erect a new bridge over the Hutt River at Melling is the question of straightening the channel at this point and for this reason when the work is carried out tho Lower Hutt Borough Council, which is concerned with the bridge, and the Hutt River Board, which controls the channel, will need to. work in harmony.

Recently the Lower Hutt Borough Council asked for the assistance of the ■various- Valley local bodies and the City Council in ascertaining the Government's attitude, to the erection of a new bridge. The replies received «o- far have been unfavourable.

Yesterday the question was before the River Board, which decided to ask its chairman, Mr. P. J. Jones, to confer with the Borough Council. "When the letter was read; the chairman said that while the work would ultimately have to be carried out, he did not consider the present time opportune. The board, was, of course, not concerned with the bridge, and though the {straightening of the channel was advisable it was not at present an absolutely necessary work. Mr. J. Mitchell said the, new bridge was very badly wanted. "ÜBEFUIi WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED." •Mr. -W, T. Strand said he could not agree, with the 'chairman that the time was not opportune. The J more he considered the matter the more he was of the .opinion that there was no more opportune time; Useful works for the unemployed were hard to find, and the building of a new bridge and the straightening of the channel were necessary and would afford worthwhile work for the relief of unemployment. When such wasteful work as the Korokoro_ Road, which . was probably costing more per mile than a road in the heart of London, and'the Horokiwi Road, both of which led nowhere and would serve no. useful purpose, were being carried out, surely such necessary, work as that under consideration should be put, in hand, even if it meant asking the ratepayers .for. a loan. The people to blame were local bodies like themselves, who ought to put in hand useful, works to absorb labour. ■ • The board had had report after report,- said Mr. Strand, drawing attention to the danger at this point, which Vas the most dangerous position the /board had to deal with. Except for the reinforcing material necessary for the-bridge the whole of the money spent on the work would be kept within the Dominion. Mr. J. Brasell ■ said he considered the work.sh&uld be carried out by contract and not' as a relief work, but he was sure the ratepayers would object to spending money on it at the present time. "I don't mind how the job is done so long," said Mr. Strand, "as it is efficiently carried out. I have always been in favour of contract jobs, but the main thing is to get the men back into useful employment, and it is the duty of local bodies to take up matters like this." THE WESTERN HUTT ROAD. The chairman: The Western .Hutt Eoad will absorb the unemployed. Mr. W. T., Strand: The Western Hutt Road is another job upon which money is' to' be wasted. • Mr. J. Brasell asked why they did not complete the. Eastern Hutt railway .and use. the 'bed-of T;he Western Hiitt line for widening the road. ") ■'■ Mr. W. T. Strand: That is what I have been advocating, and it'is time public opinion was roused on the question. I have received numerous letters commending the-attitude I adopted in an interview, in the "Evening Post." Mr. J. Mitchell moved that the chairman be asked to confer with the Lower Hutt:Borou'gh Cpun^iron' the -question. —' 'Mr. MY'J;Hodgihs said 'there Will' ■he only themselves and the Borough Council:at the conference. ■ '■ ■Mr. W.. T. .Strand 'said ■'rightly so. This was' purely'a domestic matter, and it would !be:.unthinkable to .drag anyone • else 'into it. ■".'' The.-chairman said they had to consider whether this was the time to place further burdens upon the ratepayers. The work was not at present absolutelynecessary. , ' Mr. Strand1 contended - that by relieving'unemployment by the provision of usefiil works ratepayers would receive'a benefit which would offset the additional burden of rates. Local bodies should view these questions from a broad point of view. The trouble was that with such a-multiplicity of ioeal bodies a narrow view was apt to; be. adopted. Mr. Mitchell's motion that the chairman'be asked to confer with the Borough Council was then -pufc. and cats tied. ■ _^_ '