SHANNON BRIDGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2937, 17 September 1925, Page 3

SHANNON BRIDGE.

# The Shannon Bridge and recent developments in connection therewith bulked large at Saturday’s meeting of the Horowhenua County Council, the chairman of which made a strong protest against the Parliamentary Committee considering the recent Shannon petition without giving the County Council an opportunity of being heard. Several lettei’s relating to the Bridge were also before the meeting.

In connection with the proposed new site of the bridge on the Fox-ton-Shannon highway, 'the chairman of the No. 9 District Highways Council wrote stating that as this site is not on a main highway the County had previously been advised that it should take the necessary steps to settle the question of allocating the cost to be paid by the various local bodies interested, as this procedure would enable the controlling authority to obtain a contribution from the Boroughs. If the road to the new site was declared a main highway it would not be possible to obtain such a contribution, but when the new bridge is completed it may be quite possible that the Main Highways Board will recommend the classifying of the road as a main highway in place of the present route.

The Manawatu County Council enclosed a copy of their letter to the chairnian of the Highways Board, in which it emphasised the importance of' the road being declared a main highway and supported the contention of the Horowhenua County Council in this respect and also endorsed this County’s action in requesting the Highways Board to undertake the work, pointing out that the means, both as to design, inspection and ability to carry it out, at the dis-

posal of the Board are much in advance of the local bodies interested.

The chairman (Mr. (1. A. Monk) said the Horowhenua County Council had had a good deal of blame that it was not entitled to for holding up the bridge. Every step the Council took seemed to be thwarted by some unexpected hindrance. He had interviewed Mr Furkert, Engin-eer-in-Chief, and was assured that if they made application to the Highways Board, they would declare the road to the new bridge a main highway, which they had power to do under the Act, before a survey was made. Once this declaration was made a subsidy could be drawn. But how could'such an application be made when these other bodies had not agreed to the new site. The only other way was for them to proceed under the Public Works Act and ask for a commission to allocate the cost to the various local bodies interested. If they did that it meant that the whole of the cost wduld fall on the local bodies and it was absolutely impossible for them to bear it.

COUNTY COUNCIL SLIGHTED. It must be made perfectly clear that the County Council was not going to take a survey and prepare plans and specifications it* the whole cost was to fall on the local bodie- The bridge would benefit the Hignwavs Board as it would be the connecting link between two main highways. Mr Furkert had asked him to make application to the Board, but they could not do that while the Shannon people were petitioning Parliament, and the Public Petitions Committee had had evidence given by residents ol Shannon in connection with the reerection of the bridge. One member of Parliament who represented a Wellington seat and not that particular part of the district had made a statement wherein he stated that the Council had spent £2OOO on a punt and that £4OOO would have reerected the old bridge. “Good gracious me!” exclaimed the chairman, “(his is the sort, of stuff that someone has filled the member up with. Had that £4OOO been spent it would have been swept away by the next flood. Evidence of this was noi given. We were not invited to go down and appear before the Committee, even though we were entitled to defend our position. When we havewther local bodies endeavouring to get behind us in that way, it is impossible to make any P' 0 gress. It seems as though every time we move a sprag is put into our wheel. I resent them very much.” If the legislation suggested by tbe recent conference of highways boards went on the Statute Book the various local bodies were going to save several thousand pounds. This was not taken into consideration at all, but they hat instead'•these pin-prickings m He back. The legislation would take control from the local bodies and place it in the hands of the Main Highways Board. The chairman said lie resented tbe evidence that was given in Wellington, and the fact that the County was not given an opportunity of being heard. He noticed from the report m tbe Chronicle that the Shannon deputation was very well received. Of course they were. It was getting near the election. He regarded the action taken as a direct slight on the controlling local authority and it did not 'bring a solution any closer. “We are not going to proceed and find ourselves let into a liability of £20,000 unless we have some assurance that we are going to get these other contributions.” The chairman suggested leaving the matter in his hands to take up with Mr Furkert, the Engineer-in-Chief. PUTTING THE ONUS ON THE COUNTY. Cr. Harkness said the onus could not be thrown on the County, which had moved as expeditiously

as possible, but the Public Works Department had not looked on the matter with the urgency they should have done. They had adopted a Taihoa policy and the Council had to wait for the result of that. “Side-stepping and red-tape” was responsible for the delay. Cr. Barber suggested that, to hurry the thing on, the two County Councils get a survey made in an endeavour to force the hand of the Highways Board. The quota paid by the two Borough Councils would be very small 'to the cost of such a survey. In justice to the ratepayers of both counties lie felt something should be done in that direction.

The Chairman: Supposing we get the survey and find that the whole thing is taken out of our hands. If we can get the Main Highways Board to declare the road to the new bridge a main highway, the Board would carry out the survey. Cr. Barber said that method was too slow. The chairman said they might make these arrangements and then find that their work had been nidified by political pressure. Cr. Harkness said it seemed to him that the other local bodies were seeking to put the responsibility for the plans and bridge on to the Horowhenua 'County Council. The Chairman: Well, they are not going to do it until we know whe-

ther they are willing to pay their shares.

Cr. Burlier said the leading citizens of-Shannon were in favour of a new bridge.

Cr. Whyte said that at the last inspection there were Foxton, Shannon and Manawatu representatives present and they were all agreed on a bridge on the new site.

The Chairman: Yet in the meanlime Shannon is petitioning Parliament. If you read yesterday’s Chronicle you will see what class of evidence was given. The chairman added that they might, have to await the action taken bv the Government on the report of this Parliamentary Committee.

Cr. Barber: When will that be presented. The Chairman: Perhaps next session. In the course of further desultory consideration, the chairman said that if the Shannon and Foxton Boroughs would come in and say they would contribute their quota, the road to the new bridge could be declared a main highway. Would they do that? Cr. Barber thought they would agree l to that. The Chairman asked whether they would give the Council that assurance in writing.

Cr. Barber did not know whether they would bind themselves to that extent.

The Chairman: Ah! There you are! When we get down to tin tacks there is nothing definite. The chairman added that he had no objection to the matter being referred to these Borough Councils.

The Engineer said lie estimated cost of the bridge and approaches was £20,000. Cr. Broadbelt thereupon moved: “The Eoxton and Shannon Boroughs be written to and asked it their boroughs would voluntarily contribute toward the cost of flic new bridge over the Manawatu Liver, in conjunction with Ilorowlicnua and Manawatu County Councils with a view to having the road and bridge declared a main highway, and contributed to as per statute of the Main Highways Bill. Also [lie chairman to press the question of the bridge and road deviation with the Highways Department.” Cr. Barber did not think the Boroughs should he saddled with [lie cost of the approaches to the Bridge, and it was agreed to confine the suggested contributions to the Bridge. The motion was then put and carried. IMPIcOVNIG THE PUNT. Wliitaunui, Ltd., called attention to the inadequate means of transit at present existing at the one-time Shannon Bridge, which was causing hardship to the company’s employees who, frequently on arriving at llie Shannon si<le o£ the river, find there is no means of crossing'; As a remedy the company suggested i’c-ei*ection of the old cable crossing the river, which was found, in the past Lo he the most satisfactory means of crossing. As an alternative the provision of an additional boat was suggested. —Left in the hands of Cr. Barber and the Engineer.—Chronicle.