The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1929 TRAFFIC AND OTHER OUTLETS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 583, 8 February 1929, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1929 TRAFFIC AND OTHER OUTLETS

TWO municipal announcements synchronise in a manner which * will amuse discerning ratepayers. One is the intention of the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. George Baildon, to seek another term of office on the principle of making his post a permanent billet, and the other is a belated decision by twin committees of the City Council to prepare for the spending of a 5300,000 on four extensive schemes for the provision of new traffic outlets within the city area. As in national politics, shrewdness becomes alert and progressive within sight of an election. Thus a timely combination of circumstances suggests that the aim of the temporarily active administration is to convey an impression that without the guiding genius of the man the proposed essential traffic improvements would not and could not he achieved. Frankly, many ratepayers who have been disillusioned hv the results of a term of municipal control which has been a record only for a lack of initiative and progress, had hoped fervently that the Mayor and several veteran members of the old brigade would have followed the admirable example of Mr. Calvin Coolidge who did not choose to run again for the world’s prize presidency. Unfortunately, half of the trouble in the universe and nearly all of its political troubles are due to the fact that men will choose to run in the wrong direction. Of the two announcements which together suavely seek the favour of the municipal elector, the second is of the first importance. There is urgent need of new outlets for Auckland’s congested street traffic. But could it not he demonstrated very easily'and clearly that the long delay in providing these prospective outlets is one of several reasons why an outlet should be provided for the retirement of those administrators who have been responsible for characteristic dalliance with an important question? The main scheme in the committee’s extensive proposal has been before the council for years. Indeed, the Belgium Street route was understood to he one of the great works which wouLd make the present Mayor famous as a progressive successor to keen administrators in turn like Sir James Parr and Sir James Gunson. In December 1926, for example, it was the outstanding proposal in the city’s municipal programme of essential public works. An official expert report on the project was then hailed as “welcome evidence that the civic authorities were devoting serious attention to the problems created by the vast increase in wheeled traffic.” That report and the plans it contained were jettisoned and nothing was done, though it has been understood throughout the period of marking time that the question at least would receive the careful and constructive attention of the council’s town-planning committee. Now, at long last, the buried proposal has been unearthed like a rich and an attractive discovery. The leading administrators have become so keen about it that the Standing Orders have been brushed aside for the moment so that the scheme might serve as an election puff before details had been submitted to the council. In the absence of details it is impracticable to discuss the merits of the proposals or their possible lack of merit. If a straightthrough route is to be made from Upper Queen Street, across Karangahape Road, to Belgium Street, then it is already clear that the immediate result will he the creation of one of the most dangerous intersections in the Dominion. On either side motorists will be held up on the brow of a hill. Irrespective of danger tlie cost of wear and tear will involve to many citizens a greater expenditure than merely another penny on their rates. Meanwhile the schemes go well with a disappointing bid for continued electoral favour.