BROOKLYN ROAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 31, 5 August 1936, Page 19

BROOKLYN ROAD

A DEPUTATION

A deputation from the Brooklyn District Municipal Electors' Association met Mr. E. P. Meachen, M,P. (acting for the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple) in' reference to , Brooklyn Road

The deputation was introduced, by Mr, R. A. Wright, M.P.; who said that residents of Brooklyn, Mornlngton, and Vogeltown were dissatisfied' with the main approach to these districts.

Dr. L. G, Austin said that ior many years the Brooklyn Association had appealed to the City Council to finish the road surface of Brooklyn Road. The position was that both up and down traffic had to use the one side of the roadway. Motorists travelling to Brooklyn-were compelled to break a bylaw by being, .forced; to use the wrong side of the road. The dangers from accident (and accidents occurred frequently)?were"such that if'a local authority would not recognise highway dangers, the Government responsibility still remained. When the - local authority failed in its mission, it was the Government's duty to take action particularly where life and limb were in danger. The Tramways Manager Mr. M. Cable, had stated that the relaying of the tram tracks was necessary.'and that when the line was being renewed new levels would be created. This statement was first made some fifteen years ago, but the relaying or the tracks has not taken place. Instead, sectional parts were removed, with the result that the whole track could not wear out simultaneously. Mr. R. Holland, representing the Vogeltown-Mornington Electors' Association, supported Dr. Austin's remarks. There was no doubt, he said, that the I dangers on Brooklyn Road were real, and until the road was finished to allow two-way traffic, the danger would, not be minimised.

Mr. E. Dixon, president of the Brooklyn Association, said that while other suburbs had had thousands of pounds spent on joadways and concrete retaining walls, Brooklyn could not get its main highway, part of the Queen's Drive route, completed.

Mr. Meachen, in reply, said it was necessary for the Government to interest itself when any local body failed to carry out its duty, and in that failure interfered with the Government policy. He felt sure that the Minister, when discussing the matter, would give his support to any nutter of road safety.

Subsequently Mr. Meachen, in company with Dr. Austin and Mr. Baggett, viewed the roadway under discussion.

Mi*. Meachen also traversed t^e proposed' Norway Street route to Karori and was impressed with its possibilities, as compared with the Sydney Street proposal.