OVERHEAD BRIDGE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 47, 11 March 1937, Page 12

OVERHEAD BRIDGE

Our Own Correspondent)

Mr Christie Replies to Mr Russell

(From

j WAIPUKURAU, March 30. | gt&tements concerning old ears going ofE the road and an overhead bridge for Waipukurau mad® by Mr A. 0. Russell, chairman of the W aipukur au County i Council, and Mr P, P. Wall at last Saturday 's meeting of the eouncil were noticed by Mf H« M. Christie, M,P. 4 4 It appears to me, " said Mr Christie, "that these people are merely putting up atraw men for the pleasure of knocking them down again. 4Regarding the regulations enforcing the inspeetion and certifying of motor vehicles, everyone should know by this time that no vehicle will be put off the road merely because it is old. This inspeetion has been asked for for ;a loug time by various motorists' organdsations and is mainly ooncerned with the steering, lighting and brakes of vehicles. I cannot understand any person in their Tight senses suggesting that a vehicle defective in any of these points is other than a danger to both the owner and other nBers of the roads. " 44Regarding Mr Russell 's statement that an overhead railway bridge would be an eyesore in the town," Mr Christie eontinued, ' 'it appears to me that he is taking it for granted that such a bridge is to be buitt over the railway line in Ruataniwha street. Mr Russell, no doubt, claims to be a practical man, and therefore must know that an over- | head bridge at the Ruataniwha street ' orossing is not practicable. He must know also that a plan was prepared, X think in 1924, for an overhead bridge at a point about half-way between the xear of the Hawke's Bay Earmers* premises and the Vacuum Cil Company'a depot, ,and to-day this still seems to be the Qialy possible place for such a bridge. How it could be an eyesore in the town in that posltion is beyond me to understand. The Waipukurau district is gojng ahead and for that xeason a long view should be taken of the whole traffic problem, includjng stock. No decision has been made to adopt any scheme, but an investigation is being carrjed out to ascertain whether an improvement can be made to deal with the increasing vehicular and stock traffic. No sensible person can fail to realise that this traffic is a growing problem and it would be less expensive to grapple with it now than to wait until compelled to act at a time' when the cost wiU inevitably be much greater." j