CIVIC PROBLEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 83, 8 April 1925, Page 9

CIVIC PROBLEMS.

WATERFRONT ROADWAY.

OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS,

3IAYOR'S MISSION TO WELLINGTON

The Mayor. Sir .Tames Gun-on, resumed his duties at the Town Hall this morning after a fortnight's absence from the city spent entirely on public business. Discussing his visit to Wellington Sir James remarked: "I visited Wellington in connection with city matters in accordance with tiie wish of the council. the principal questions being the Orakei waterfront roadway, the matter of the transfer, of the Shortland Street post office site, and several questions affecting tlie city administration. Notable among these last was the position developing in connection with tho tramway and bus competition in the city, a 'problem which is rapidly asserting itself in other centres of the Dominion.

In regard to the Orakei waterfront roadway, the matter lists rrow finally to ito to tli" Government, and until tho Government policy is definitely determined it impossible , for the local bodies to do anything more. The City Council has already approved the principle of the wlionie. and is prepared to contrihuti! on a basis to be agreed upon with the Government towards the post of the roud, recognising the city's obligations to support n scheme of such importance to the development of Auckland. Upon this scheme, aa upon many others involving large expenditure and making for definite progress, it is impossible for anything to be done unless the City Council is alive to the position, and in full co-operation with the Government and others concerned. ]n this instance that is happily the position. So far a* the motor bus problem is concerned the council will be further considering the matter of tramways a<nd bus control, and in the meantime nothing more can be said on the subject. While in Wellington I discussed the question of the Shortland Street post office with the Minister, and advanced the case to be brought before the Court for decision as to compensation on hoth sides. The date on which the council gets possession has not yet been fixed, but the Post and Telegraph people have promised to give possession as soon as the Department can suitably surrender it. This should be now only a matter of a few months. At any rate, why the work of demolishing the prothere appears to be no practical reason, pent building and starting on the Toad through the site should not be put in hand towards the end of this year.