NEED FOR HARBOUR BRIDGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 835, 2 December 1929, Page 1

NEED FOR HARBOUR BRIDGE

Ferry Efficiency Not a Factor

COMMISSION HEARS EVIDENCE

‘ THE adequacy or otherwise of the ferry service does not 1. come into the question. If the public wants a bridge and is prepared to pay for it, it should have it. An efficient service does not excuse the continuation of a monopoly.”— Mr. G. P. Finlay, counsel for the Auckland Harbour Bridge Association. An imposing array of counsel greeted the Auckland Harbour Bridge Commission when it resumed its sitting at the Chamber of Commerce this morning. The commission, which consists of Mr. J. Marchbanks, engineer to the Wellington Harbour Board (chairman), Mr. F. W. Furkett, engineer in charge of the Public Works Department, and Captain C. McDonald, retired master mariner, opened its sitting on November 14, but adjourned until today in order to carry out an inspection of the harbour and proposed sites.

Local bodies and interested companies were represented as follow: Auckland Harbour Bridge Association, Mr. G. P. Finlay and Mr. IT. H. Greville; Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. R. McVeagh; Devonport Steam Ferry Company. Mr. E. H. Nortbcroft; Waitemata Bridge Inquiry Protection Association, Mr. V. R. Meredith: Auckland City Council. Mr. J. Stanton; Northcote Borough Council, Mr. H. C. George; Devonport Borough Council, Mr. E. Aldridge; Birkenhead Borough Council, Mr. J. P. McPhail; Takapuna Borough Council, Mr. J. W. Williamson; W&itemata County Council, Mr. C. A. Carkwell; Waitemata Electric Power Board, Mr. J. W. Hayden; Mount Eden Borough Mr. W. H. Nagle; Auckland Automobile Association, Mr. F. E. Powell; Waikato Waterways' League, Mr. N

G. Gribb‘le; Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Mr. H. B. V. Richmond;. Mr. J. Newell, manager of the Auckland branch of the Colonial Sugar Company, gave evidence of the slapping requirements of his company in carrying supplies to and from its Chelsea works. He asked that provision be made in any proposed bridge to r 11— any vessel to "work Chelsea at mean high water. CASE FOR THE BRIDGE Outlining the ease for the Harbour Bridge Association, Mr. G. P. Finlay said two classes of opposition would ho met with during the sitting of *ke commission; the natural opposition that was always offered by conservative minds, and that by parties desirous of conserving their interests. Of the Ferry Company he preferred to say nothing except that like the Trojar.s the Harbour Bridge Association feared the Greeks when they approached with gifts. in the Ferry Company’s offer of assistance and co-operation made at the outset of the commission, he was inclined to expect a Trojan horse. Mr. Finlay outlined the objects and activities of the association, stating it was truly representative of practically all the local bodies in the district, and it had the support also of the Automobile Association, Master

Carriers’ Association, and in addition to a large proportion of the public, practically all the Parliamentary re-

presentatives in the districts affected. The association held only ono view and that was that the bridge was not only necessary but practicable. The building of a bridge, he suggested, was nothing more thau the building of a good road giving access to a big district. Roads were generally associated with rates, but he wanted to make dear that if the bridge could not pay. its way the association did not want it. THE TROJAN HORSE Mr. V. K. Meredith (Waiumata Bridge Inquiry Protection Association): Will your association pledge that V Mr. Finlay? Ah! That Trojan Horse now wags its tail. Mr. Meredith: You have not answered my question. Mr. Finlay: The enemy has dis-

closed itself. Outlining the possibilities of building development on the North Shore, Mr. Finlay said that on land now available it was estimated by the various authorities that houses could be erected as follow:- —Devonport, 870; T’akapuna. 4,666; Birkenhead, " ,orthcote, 3,614. Mr. Finlay alscmealt with the need for direct access with the country lying to the north, particularly in regard to the transportation of fat stock to the City, and the desirability ol the North Shore as a. residential area. Counsel also dealt with the big increase of motor traffic and the possible requirements of the future, as assessed in a report by Mr. G. Hogan, chief traffic officer of the City, also quoting a report dealing with tho increase of motor Traffic over the Hamilton Bridge during the present year. He contended that the three thousand odd motor vehicles that passed over the Hamilton Bridge would only be a fraction of that which would pass from the most prosperous city of New Zeae land to that area across the water, much bigger than Hamilton, and to the large tracts of farming land lying to the North. On October 22, 2133 motor vehicles passed over the Whau Bridge between the hours of 7 a.m, and 11.30 p.m. On that day how many cars would have passed over a harbour bridge? asked Mr. Finlay. Those figures were taken on a Friday, said counsel, and it was suggested

that on a Sunday they would be greatly increased. (Continued on Page 11.)