BRIDGE SITE DANGEROUS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 836, 3 December 1929, Page 1

BRIDGE SITE DANGEROUS

Niagara Captain’s Evidence

financial details sought

“WITH a bridge erected from Beaumont Street to Shoal M Bay and a heavy easterly gale blowing at flood tide, I would not like to berth the Niagara at the western wharves,” said Captain T. V. Hill, commander of the R.M.S. Niagara, giving evidence before the Harbour Bridge Commission this morning. Mr. R. H. Greville, chairman of the Harbour Bridge Association, was subjected to close cross-examination in regard to the financing of the proposed bridge and method of assessing toll charges, details being persistently inquired for by counsel representing several bodies.

The Commission, which resumed its sitting this morning, consists of Mr. J. Marchbanks, engineer to the Wellington Harbour Board (chairman), Mr. F. W. Furkert, engineer in charge ot the Public Works Department, and Captain C. McDonald, retired master mariner. Evidence as to the object and activities ot the Harbour Bridge Association was given during the latter part of yesterday afternoon by Richard Henry Greville, president. Mr. Greville said the membership was 12,500, being drawn from Kaitaia in the North and Wellington in the South, while there were even members in Sydney. in addition to the four North \ Shore boroughs a harbour bridge would serve a population of 71,000 in North Auckland. Continuing this morning, Mr. Greville said that the Rodney County Council was desirous that the commission should visit the county, particularly the Wellsford district, where a good idea would be obtained of the country that would benefit from the erection ot a bridge. Referring to proposed sites Mr. Greville said the association strongly favoured the Beaumont Street-Shoal Bay route, and after that the Beaumont Street-Northcote one. The further up the harbour the bridge was placed the less value It would be. The first choice ae regards the financing of the bridge was that of a toll bridge paying for Itself. Debentures could also be sold. The Chairman: What if it does not pay for ItBelt? Witness: We claim that it will. The Chairman: But if it is erected under a misapprehension and it does not pay? Witness: In that case the State would have to pay, However, money is available on the security of the tolls. The association has been approached by several financial concerns who are willing to advance the money. Mr. Furkert: Can we get evidence ai to that? Witness: We have confidential correspondence on the matter. Mr. Finlay: The fact is that these people desire to advance the money in return for a right to charge a toll over a number of years. But the association does not desire that that right should pass into private hands. R prefers, on the experience of California, that the State should have the control. Mr. Northcroft: Of course, this company’s offer would depend largely upon the site. Mr. Finlay: The company is aware of all the circumstances. In reply to the chairman, witness said the idea was that the State would guarantee the deficiency, if any. Mr. Furkert: The State would take •he responsibility, but not share in the profits? Witness's reply was interrupted by 'lf- Finlay, who admitted that that was the position. BERTHING NIAGARA Captain T. V. Hill, commander of the Niagara, was called by the Auckland Harbour Board. Questioned as to space requiremsnts under the proposed bridge, he was of opinion that no height under 150 feet was suitable for head room. Cor reasonable safety, considering tides and currents, he considered that 500 feet on each side of the centre °f the span would be necessary. To Mr. Greville: The Niagara required a vertical clearance of from ts< to 138 feet. He had no actual wperience In handling vessels under bridges.

Mr. George (Northcote Borough Council): The clearance under the New York bridges on the East River 18 of 135 feet. The American Navy yard is situated on this river, and the vsssels of the American Navy pass under them, and the American Navy ! s one of the largest in the world — ln ~ act- they say it is the largest. ~° Mr. McVeagh: Captain Hill said “• Shoal Bay and Northcote sites were too close for safety. He liimse“ had backed out of Princes Wharf a "d had finished up with the stern •f his vessel westward of Western 'vnarf. To Captain McDonald: He had a bdot’s certificate for the Auckland ? ar h°ur, and knew its condition, with the heavy easterly gales, the its *hies ran much more strongly. ;t he had to berth his ship at any of * western wharves, his ship, 700 R et long and drawing 30 feet, would much quicker with the tide. •f * bridge were erected on* the ■eeumont Street - Shoal Bay site, the position while turning in the •tream under such circumstances Would be dangerous. He certainly would not like trying It.

I Cross-examined by Mr. V. R. Mere- | dith (North Shore Ratepayers and Waitemata Bridge Inquiry Protection Association), Mr. Greville admitted that following an unsuccessful attempt by the Takapuna Borough Council to purchase the Takapuna Tram and Ferry Company, the councillors who supported the proposal were all ejected at the next election. Mr. Meredith: And you were one of them. Witness: Yes, and it took a lot of money to do it. Mr. Meredith: And it was then the campaign for the bridge really started. Did not Mr. Morrison say in a speech: "Now we will go for the bridge”? Witness: The Bridge Association was started before that. I cannot remember if Mr. Morrison made that remark; I cannot say for certain whether I was there. In regard to a pamphlet issued in 1928 by the association, and whicn suggested the collection of revenue on a rating basis, witness said that that was the opinion of the association, based on the information possessed at that time. Further information had since been received regarding the financing of similar bridges in America, and that had caused the association to alter its opinion. Mr. Meredith: Have you any details to offer this commission regarding the bridge? Without details how do you arrive at your estimates regarding proposed charges? lam asking you to show us the detail of your work. Can you produce them this afternoon. Witness: We will produce them when the Ferry Company will produce theirs. Mr. Meredith: ’lt does not matter about that. Can you produce them this afternoon? Witness (after a pause): 1 would rather not answer. Mr. Meredith: It is understood that there will be no rating. Can you tell us where you will get your first £IOO,OOO from —without a particle of security? Witness: We say seriously that people are willing to put the money in on the security of the tolls. Mr. Meredith: Can you place before the commission, in confidence, any definite offer? An interjection by Mr. Finiav at this point called forth a protest from Mr. Meredith. “You had a good go yesterday, Mr. Finlay,” he said. “Now we want to get down to some eommonsense proposals.” Witness said the offers received by the association were only in the preliminary stages. The association would put the offers Bfefore the commission. Mr. Meredith: You anticipate a higher scale of toll charges than those levied at Vancouver? Witness: No higher than the Ferry Company is taking from the public. The position in regard to the \ ancouver Bridge is somewhat different. Questioned regarding the total revenue expected, Mr. Greville said it was estimated that £62,354 would be obtained the first year. They anticipated receiving a return of 8 per cent. Mr Meredith: How did you arrive at the traffic? How many motorbuses did you estimate? Witness: We did not estimate motorbuses: just the aggregate number. We are not worrying about the buses. IV e made our traffic estimates cn tallies Mr. Meredith: How did you base your average, charge of Is a vehicle Where are the figures? - Witness: In the waste paper basltei I suppose. We did not keep them. Mr. Meredith: I am trying to find out how much of the toll is going to be passed on to passengers travelling in the buses. Witness: We say it will he so low that it probably will not be passed oil However, he would try and obtain the necessary figures by tomorr°W' "A CHEAP SNEER”

To Mr Northcroft (Devonport fctoa.nl Ferry Company): Witness personally directed the tally taken at Devonport on Saturday. The details, would be available, showed that 13vehicles were shifted within an hour. Mr. Northcroft:— The Ferry Company also took a tally, which showed 184 vehicles shifted during the peak hour, between 5.30 abd 6.30 p.m. Witness: They did not do it. Mr Northcroft. addressing the chairman: In view of that statement, sir. I must ask for the details. To the chairman witness said that lie was not there all the time. Mr Northcroft: You say that because these figures come from the Ferry Company they are necessai ily incorrect. Mr. Greville: I say the wish is the father of the thought with the Ferry Company. The Chairman: You should not say that. In reply to a question by Mr. Northcroft as to whether the provision of additional docking facilities by the Harbour Board would not improve the position, witness said it would. And also if the Ferry Company reduced its charges, ’* he added. Mr. Northcroft: That's only a cheap sneer; it does little good. (Proceeding)