ACCESS TO SEA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 21, 9 February 1937, Page 8

ACCESS TO SEA

— Presp Association.)

Whai Does Christchurch Want? mr semple's views

(By TelesrapH

CHEISTCHUBCH, Last Night. -• A definite statement of his present. attitude to the longstanding dispute in Christchurch about improved aecess to the sea was made by the Minister of Public Works Hon. R. Semple) to-day. : Oue group in Christchurch wants a tunnel road through the hill to Lyttelton. Another wants -a port in the estuary at Sumner. "Until we know what the people of Canterbury want we can do nothing about access for tne city of Christchurch to the sea," said Mr Semple. "If the people wisa, our engineers will consider the feasibility of any reasonable proposal, but we do not wanf to be drawn into an argu- ' ment." Mr Kemple said: lt was a great pity so much argument had ariseu over the problem. He definitely could not taka sides. His duty was to investigate any proposal made by the community, but it was so far not possible to tell what the community wanted. He had thought a referendum might be taken but he agreed there were difficulties in the way. Any further move lay with the people of Christchurcn. Mr Semple said if they wanted any one scheme they must make it clear to him 'that the majority agreed on that scheme. His Department would investigate any reasonable deniand from the people but simpiy would not take sides in the argument.