"A STAB IN THE DARK."

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 146, 21 June 1923, Page 4

"A STAB IN THE DARK."

THE WATERFRONT RAILWAY. DEVONPORT COUNCIL DISCUSSION. The recent negotiations between the Auckland Harbour Board and the City Council formed the basis of an emphatic discussion at the Devonport Borough Council last evening. The Mayor, Mr. T. Lamont, opened the question by reporting that he had interviewed the chairman of the Board, Mr. H. Mackenzie together with Mr. Hamer, the engineer. While he had obtained a lot of information, he had been unable to obtain any assurance that the scheme secured adequate safeguards for the safety of ferry users. Mr. E. Aldridge then "moved the following resolution:— That this Borough Council of Devonport humbly petitions Parliament to exercise its sovereign powers of supervision, revocation and veto over the shameful bargain just concluded between the Auckland City Council and the Auckland Harbour Board, whereby in return for a strip of freehold the former has ceded to the latter the perpetual right to construct and run a. railway along Quay Street, on the grounds: (a.'\ That the four northern boroughs of Devonport, Takapuna, Xorthe.ote and Birkenhead, who are vitally interested in and whose best interests are jeopardised by the construction of the proposed railway, were neither consulted nor considered in the matter; that the proposed railway will be a constanit menace to the life and limb and daily convenience or all residents of the northern boroughs, as it will imperil their only access to ferry transit; (cj that no suggestion of any consideration for the safety of pedestrian traffic has ever been incluo-ed in any of the i negotiations now ratified by the two contracting bodies. Speaking in support of his motion, Mr. Aldridge said that it was imperative that something should be done to hinder the passing of the Harbour Board Em- J powering Bill. He personally regarded the negotiations between the Auckland Harbour Board and the City Council as nothing more nor less than a cold-blooded and treacherous piece of bargaining, which has resulted in the betrayal of the best interests of the northern boroughs. He objected to the manner in which they have been conducted. It represents a revival of the Star Chamber methods, repugnant to any democratic community. The speaker declared it was well known everywhere that level crossings were deathtraps, and yet it was proposed to institute one in the busiest street of the Dominion's largest city. All this talk about two trains a day was so much palaver. It is generally accepted as a fact -that it is the Board's ultimate intention to connect the timber mills and their Freeman's Bay reclamation along this siding, and wool, timber, and produce trains will run in constant procession along this route. The mover concluded b- labelling the scheme as the most retrograde policy ever launched by any local authority. Mr. J. llislop warmly seconded the resolution, and eritioised the wharf scheme as being opposed to reason. He regarded as futile and dangerous any arrangement of shipping which necessitated ocean-going vessels being brought across the track of ferry and coastal traffic. The railway project had his wholehearted condemnation as a dastardly attach on the best interests of the northern boroughs. Mr. Perry Taylor also supported the .motion and declared that the borouah councils' responsibility centred on the adequate protection of their own people. He scouted the idea that we were helpless in the matter and strongly urged that the rights of pedestrian traffic should Teceive the firm support of Parliament. The motion was carried b3 - six votes to three, the affirmative being Messrs. Lamont (Mayor), Aldridge. Hislop, Luxford, Little and Perry Taylor, while the negative were Messrs. Bar*t:ev, Bond and Fraer. It was further decided to seek united action on the part of the other northern boroughs in the direction of protest, and if necessary to send a delezation to lav their views before parliament.