Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1925. THE SHANNON BRIDGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2841, 3 February 1925, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1925. THE SHANNON BRIDGE.

BOiJjED down, ilio result of |he recent conference hot ween governing; bodies interested in the bridge (picstion ill. Moutoa, appears to be (hat, until a new bridge is erected on a new site at a cost of from £I,BOO to £20,000 a punj will be the means of communication between Boston, .Moutoa, and Shannon. This primitive method of crossing the Manawatu may continue for at least two years. The cost of constructing the punt and its maintenance will be borne by the Highways Board, Manawatu and Horowhenua Comity Councils and Fox ton and Shannon Borough Coucils. The Highways 80-. ard will be the controlling authority. So far the charge for ferrying has not been decided on but it appears that no charge will be made to those using the punt within the local body areas mentioned. The Highways Board will get an indication of the traffic on the Foxton-Shannon main highway per medium of the punt but this would not he a true record on which to base the importance of the road as a main highway for the reason that a large percentage of traffic would be diverted rather than put up with the inconvenience and expense of the punt. We regret that the advocacy of putting the present structure in a state of repair was not successful hut as Mayor Chrystall pointed out, the last has not been heard on that point yet. The Horowhenua County Council is opposed to any expenditure on the old structure and its chairman was insistent that the Highways Board should he the controlling authority. There will he agreement on the latter point for we unhesitatingly say that had the Horowhenua County Council done ils duty in safeguarding the present bridge, its safely would not have been jeopardised. Further, had it been in earnest, .it could have carried out hank control and apport-

ioned the cost. Tn our opinion (he ehnirman of (he Abumw.itu County Council should not have weakened in his opening advocacy of repairing the present slruelure as by doing so he played inlo Ihc hands of Ihe tJorowhemia County Council, who desire lo wash their hands of any responsibility in connection with the matter. The matter should lie submitted to (lie Highways Council for re-consideration.