WAIKATO-MANUKAU CANAL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 588, 30 November 1920, Page 3

WAIKATO-MANUKAU CANAL

REPRESENTATIVE j* MEETING. If M— / PROfcft.jN FORMA^msCUSSEIJ Staf^Representative). 1 An infonfftl, but nevertheless im- | portant.discussion of the abovenamed » pro took place at a representatiwTneeting at Waiuku last night, when Sir Frederick Lang, M.P. for Manukau, and Speaker of the House, and representatives of the*Pukelft)he and Onehur.ga Chambers of Commerce, the Franklin Count} Council iincl the Pukekohe Borough Council attended an informal meeting and social evening at the invitation of the Waiuku Chamber of Commerce to discuss matters of general interest to all the districts represented. The function took place immediately after the annual meeting of the Waiuku Chamber of Commerce, at which Mr. R. J. Harris was elected president and Mr. J. D. Chalmers secre- • tary. * It was inconceivable, Mr W. Mcf.wen opined, that such a fine waterway should be lost. The canal project was quite feasible; the engineering difficulties were not great, and the waterway would serve to carry exports and imports to and from Auckland and the interior of the

province. Mr. H. M. Wynyard (Auckland Harbour Board) said that for many years past he had taken great interest in the proposal. On one occasion the Onehunga Chamber of Commerce had iirranged a trip to Waiuku,.and had inspected the proposed route. However, the war had delayed matters indefinitely. Owing to the actien lecently taken at Mercer the question had been revived, the members being Messrs. Ferguson, Ashley Hunter and Begg. The navigation of the Waikato River was first on the order of reference, to which no objection had been made. The Auckland Harbour Board had gathered much information, and some years ago estimated the cost at £IOO,OOO. The canal would not be a sea-level one, for there would be a lock at Otaua and another at the Needles, I has raising the level and reducing the amount of cutting necessary. The mount of navigable waterway that could be effected was some 250 miles, up the Waikato and Waipa Rivers, into the heart of the Raglan and Waikato Counties, and would therelure be of great utility. Hardly any other part of the world was so suitable for canalisation as the portion of the Auckland Province the Waikato River ran through. The length ov the local canal would be about one and a-quarter miles. Eventually, the Manukau would be connected with the Waitemata. There were both questions of engineering and of finance, but he had no doubt that the full scheme would come to fruition some day, in the interests of the people of Auckland city and the province. Mr. T. E. McMillan (Pukekohe . Chamber of Commerce) was in favMtttr of the canal proposition, provided 1 lie navigation problems of the Waikato River were dealt with lirst. To construct a canal without first making the river as navigable as it was practicable to do would be like starting to build a chimney from the top instead of from the base. Of course, in any canal system, «reat care would have to be taken to guard against the possibility of the Otaua and Aka Aka lowlands becoming inundated. Mr. R, T. Reid (chairman of the

Waiuku Town Board) welcomed the visitors on behalf of the town. He was a hearty supporter of the canal project, which he thought would do far more good than the few miles of l; ilway. The district was one of the wealthiest in New Zealand, handy to Auckland city markets. The dairy and utlier products were in volume favourable by comparison. He hoped in the neaj future to see a water supply and drainage schemes in operation.

Mr. C. K. Lawrie (Mayor of Pukekohe) enlarged on the value of good relationships existing between different parts of the district. There was no doubt that the railway was congested," and that a canal was renuired. He believed that roads in Franklin were as good as in nearly any other place. He had travelled over many worse in other counties. Any money expended in the district would return good interest. At any time that Pukekohe bodies could assist Waiuku they would be very pleased to do so. Mr. H. Dell seconded Mr. Lawrie's remarks that Pukekohe would always be willing and pleased to work in with Waiuku. The two chambers of commerce would work hand in hand with a canal project. Cr. G. Armstrong (Pukekohe Borough Council) said he had often wished that Pukekohe had a big proportion of progressive men as had

Waiuku, according to the respective populations. There was too much of the "get rich quick" spirit in Pukekohe, and not enough public spirit, lie was a frequent visitor to Waiuku.

The president humorously comment"il that, in Waiuku they were past the "get rich quick" stage; with the exception of clergymen and teachers (the president is a teacher) they were all rich enough. (Laughter.) Mr. Davis (president of the Onehungn Chamber of Commerce) said he was glad the railway project had so far materialised that there need In- no of opposition to the canal on the old score that it might mean the loss or retardation of the railway. During the war the Imperial Government found the canals in Belgium and France of great value, and from what they had seen there had set up a commission with a view to again using many canals in Great Britain. Water-carriage was the cheapest form of transport kno\vn. Mr. Wynyard had always been a champion of the canal system, and the Auckland Harbour Board had been » champion of the canal projects, and largely instrumental in furthering the canal projects. He feared that if the public did not agitate sufficiently the Government would drop the canal projects. The electric supply scheme was of great importance, and when completed would confer immense benefit on the district. By harnessing the Waikato River the (oal and labour troubles attaching thereto would be solved. Neither Pukekohe nor Waiuku could advance without helping each other. Mr. R. F. Webster (president of the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce) denied that there was any serious

opposition between Pukekohe and Waiuku. He supported the canal proand had done so for many years. His sympathies were with Waiuku in in:in \' natters. He was never very i-.ni .1, ne about the railway, but he i 1,1 always thought that the canal s\-Ic.ns would mean prosperity to the diet and to the people of AuckI: 1 1 and the Waikato. The farmers nuld get their produce! away more 1 ■ aply and their imports through likewise. It would receive the warm support of Pukekohe people. Mr. H. 0. Mellsop (Franklin County Council) congratulated the chamber on the gathering. He hardly agreed that the roads were as good as in other places, but good progress was in sight, per medium of the Franklin County Council and Waiuku Town Board. He was glad to note that better feeling prevailed between town

iml country. The rivalry between Pukekohe and Waiuku was a healthy sign. The people 011 the peninsula were greatly interested in the canal and lock service, because there was a large tract of country which would always have to depend on water-car-liami. If a lock were put near Toea Point a much better body of water could be secured, and would briny that district's transportation 20 miles nearer Auckland. A great forward movement would be made which would benefit Waiuku immensely. Sir Frederick Lang, who received an enthusiastic ovation, said that every time he came to Waiuku he saw improvements in the town, and enjoyed the hospitality of the people. In regard to the canal, he had always taken great interest in it, for he had an intimate knowledge of the tributaries of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers. The project was of great importance to the people of the province. It was not advisable to be dependent <>n ;i single track trunk railway only. lie endorsed the canal project, but something more was needed, a railway and good roads. He took a great pride in Auckland, and liked everything about it but its roads. He hoped to see good roads throughout the Dominion.