H.—35,

The tolls to be charged on motor-omnibuses, which would presumably run at frequent intervals, should be the subject of special negotiations between the transport authorities and the authority controlling the bridge. The Harbour Bridge Association assumed that the traffic over the bridge [would total 3,000 vehicles per day, and would rapidly increase. From the experience obtained at Vancouver, with a large population and, it is believed, with a greater density of motor-vehicle ownership, this figure has not been reached after more than two years of operation. However, if we assume that the traffic would amount to 3,000 vehicles per day, of which 500 would be motor-trucks, this would give a revenue of £63,875 per annum, and the traffic might be assumed to increase to 4,000 vehicles per day, producing £85,167 per annum, in ten years. It will be seen from these figures that there would still be approximately £65,000 to be found from other sources. (c) If by a levy on the lands increased in value by the execution of the works, what lands should be levied on, and in what proportions. Excluding a large part of Devonport, which is already adequately served, and which is too remote from the bridge to obtain much benefit, we are of opinion that a considerable increase in values will accrue at Northcote, Birkenhead, Takapuna, and the southern portion of the Waitemata County. Several witnesses stressed the desirability of applying the betterment principle laid down in the Town-pla.nning Act. In this proposal we see very considerable difficulty, but, provided the experience gained in the operation of the Act during the years which will elapse between the present day and the date of the building of the bridge indicates that the betterment provisions of the Act can be applied without friction and hardship, then this principle should be taken advantage of. We have already mentioned that it does not appear to us that it is likely that at present the lands in Auckland City would receive such a benefit as to justify their being loaded with any considerable portion of the cost of the bridge. In actual practice the greater part of the revenue from the bridge tolls will be derived from Auckland residents and Auckland business houses. (d) If by contracting with any individual or company to construct the bridge, receiving as consideration therefor the right to collect tolls for a specific period, on the understanding that at the end of such period the bridge is handed over free of encumbrances to the controlling authority, then for what period, and to which authority, and under what special conditions. In the course of our inquiry we were told by the representatives of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Association that they preferred that the Government should build the bridge, but that if that were not done they were convinced that an organization could be induced to erect the bridge at its own cost, recouping itself from the tolls over a specified period, and at the end of such period handing over the bridge in good order to whatever authority was authorized to control it. This view was supported by others. We doubt very much whether this is feasible ; but, in view of our definite statement that we do not think the bridge should be built at the present time, either by the Government or by local authorities, we are of the opinion that no obstacle should be placed in the way of the bridge being constructed by the means indicated. We consider that if such an arrangement is completed, the company or individual building the bridge should have the sole right to the tolls for a period of twenty-five years, and that at the end of that time the bridge should be handed over to the City of Auckland on the condition that it should abolish the tolls. (e) If partly by one of these methods, or partly by another, or by any other method, then which method or methods. As indicated above in detail, we are of opinion that the bridge should be financed partly by tolls, partly by a> charge on the lands to be benefited, and partly by a grant from the General Government, unless it should prove possible to have the bridge erected free of cost to the country, as has been suggested by the Auckland Harbour Bridge Association (see remarks under (d)).

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