HARBOUR BRIDGE SCHEME

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1079, 17 September 1930, Page 16

HARBOUR BRIDGE SCHEME

NORTHCOTE MAYOR’S PROTEST OBJECTION TO COMPANY A vigorous and strongly worded protest was made by Mr. A. E. Greenslade, Mayor of Northcote, at the council meeting last evening, against honouring the proposal adopted some three months ago to donate five guineas to the Auckland Harbour Bridge Association. In support of his contention that the donation should not be forwarded, Mr. Greenslade claimed that, if forwarded, it would only be used for propaganda to float a company that would be detrimental to tbe construction of the bridge, and which, in his opinion, would result in the break up of the association. To form a company with 5,000 shares at £1 each to undertake to finance the construction of a bridge that would cost a million to build was fantastic and absolutely ridiculous. Opponents of the bridge scheme could seize the opportunity of securing the bulk of the shares, and thus block the whole project if they so desired. It would be a scandal to donate ratepayers’ money for the purpose of furthering .such a futile scheme. It was the council’s duty to safeguard the site suggested by the Harbour Bridge Commission, as it vitally affected the borough from a town planning view, and any charter granted should be through the Harbour Bridge Association, when the Government was satisfied that a company was financially strong enough to carry out the project, and not to a mushroom company as at present proposed. Mr. H. J. C. George also strongly protested, but moved that the donation be forwarded with a strongly worded protest against the proposed fostering of such a company. An amendment that the donation he forwarded without any comment, was moved by Cr. R. Martin, and seconded by Cr. F. Wilson, and was carried. A further amendment that the question be deferred till there was a full attendance of councillors, three being absent, was defeated.