ACCESS TO SEA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 212, 20 June 1933, Page 8

ACCESS TO SEA

SCHEMES IN CHRISTCHURCH.

QUESTION OF INVESTIGATION

(Per Press Association)

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

On the motion of the Mayor (Mr I>. G. Sullivan, M.P.) the City Council last night set up a committee consisting of Councillors G. T. Thurston, F. T. Evans and W. Hayward, to take preliminary steps with a view to an investigation of the schemes for the •construction of a tunnel road to Lyttelton'and for the establishment of a port in the Estuary. The discussion was opened by the receipt of a letter from Mr H. Hobday, iu which he urged that the council should take the initiative in regard to the selection of either the tunnel road scheme or the Estuary port scheme as a suitable work to be undertaken at the present time. He declared that it was a question for the city to decide. The Mayor stated that there was something to be said for Mr Hobday's suggestion and a great deal to be said for inviting the community to help in finding solutions for the problems confronting it.

Testing Public Opinion. "Some of our people want a new port in the Estuary, some want better access by means of a tunnel road and some are sure that neither the one nor the other is'required," the Mayor continued. A number of people urge the construction of the Estuary port or the- tunnel road, primarily for the purpose of providing useful work for the unemployed on better terms than they get to-day. . ■"We do not know whether there is ' any real public opinion'on these questions or whether the proposals put forward by partisans are sufficiently clearly defined, to enable the formation of a public opinion. I suggest that the City Council take the initiative in gefcting a gathering of citizens, who will work at the task of clearly defining the . proposals'for the benefit of the public and showing the effects of the alternative proposals, from the viewpoints o, trade, finance and employment, and then work out a method of testing the will of the people on each proposal. I suggest as a first step that three councillors be appointed with power to act in-determining to whom invitations to the gathering shall be issued and to, make other necessary arrangements for holding the meeting. Ido not favour the holding of an ordinary public meeting." The Mayor moved that a committee be set lip consisting of Councillors Thurston, Evans and Hay ward. / Referendum Wanted. i Councillor H. T. J. ThacW seconded the motion. He said that the Port Christehurch League was determined to go to the Harbour Board and ask for a referendum to be taken on the question, and he was of the opinion that it could be taken on the same day as the Tramway Board election in November. He suggested that after the committee had paved the way the Mayor should call a public meeting so that the working people interested in the question could take part in the discussion. "Does Councillor Thacker forget that we have a port now where we ship our produce?" asked Councillor J. W. Beanland. He expressed the view that if there was to be a referendum it should be taken over the whole district and not the city only. The motion was carried. ' A, letter from the Port Christehurch League applying for a grant to its fund's was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration in conjunction with the. estimates.

Harbour Board's Attitude. The Lyttelton Harbour Board advised, that it was of opinion that, the time was inopportune for consideration of a report, on the Port Christehurch scheme, which had been submitted to it by the previous council. ' Councillor F'. T. Evans said the question of ' a referendum was one which the'Harbour Board might consider. It was not an unreasonable request. He moved, "That the council express its regret that the Harbour Board had found the time inopportune to go into the questions submitted, and that the Board be asked to give consideration and effect to the proposal to hold a referendum." Councillor Thacker seconded 'the motion. He said that had there not been a scheme* for a port on the Christehurch side of the hills, the charges for goods coming through the tunnel would have been much higher. He suggested a deputation to the Harbour Board. Auckland could raise a loan of £1,500,000 to build a bridge and Southland proposed to raise over £1,0*0,000 for a road roundthe Sounds. In that case, surely Canterbury could get the finance to start with the scheme of the estuary port in a small way. Councillor'E. H. Andrews moved an amendment that the subject be held over-pending the conference. Probably the reply they would get from the Harbour Board would be to mind their own business. Councillor T. Andrews seconded the amendment.

Councillor Elizabeth ft. McCombs \ said she thought Councillor Evans's motion was in conflict with the Mayor's idea. She suggested that the letter he referred to the committee just set up. The amendment was lost on the easting vote of the Mayor. Councillor Lyons asked that his vote be recorded ■ against the motion, which was carried. \ y