NEW WHAU BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 304, 24 December 1929, Page 10

NEW WHAU BRIDGE.

THE cawal restrictions. WHO SHOULD PAY ? NEW LYNN COUNCIL OBJECTS. f • f ' At last night's meeting of the New Borough Council, the Mayor, Mr. C. F. Gardner, reported on the proceedings bf the recent conference of local bodies in regard to the Wliau Bridge reconstruction proposals. A most important point referred to iby Mr. Gardner was the Harbour Board's requirements in view of the possibility of the construction of a barge canal. There appeared to be no likelihood of any amendment of the Harbour Board s restrictions as already laid down, and . compliance with those conditions meant that the local bodies concerned would have to contribute towards the cost of a ■bridge estimated to cost £13,000, whilst a 25ft brick arch could be built to give full access to frontages above stream for ,£BSOO. The Mayor held that the balance of £4500 could only be regarded as a direct contribution from the local bodies interested towards a canal scheme which might never be realised, and if it did was not a cost which should be borne by ratepayers. If the construction of a canal was a work likely to be undertaken in the near future, those interested should now come forward and accept the ' liability of the special provisions 1 demanded by the Harbour Board. On the other hand, if the proposed canal was a matter of years to come, the cost of any bridge alterations would be $riflin" compared with the total cost of the scheme—a scheme which might differ considerably from that which is now foreshadowed in the Harbour Board's Requirements. The proposed brick arch could readily be duplicated to provide for canal requirements if it ever became necessary. He recommended the council to protest at the sitting of the proposed commission against contributing towards the extra cost of any scheme involving (restrictions laid down expressly for jpanalisation projects. Mr. Lawson supported the views Expressed by the Mayor. He said the canal scheme had been a dream for the last quarter of a century or more, and its |ealisaiion was now, in his opinion, fur-

ther off than ever because of the advent of more modern transport. At any rate, the ratepayers had enough taxtion to carry without adding extra cost to the bridge proposal entailed by the canal project, which, if ever proceeded with, would be undertaken no doubt by private

enterprise. The council unanimously endorsed the liolicy proposed by the Mayor, and the strongest possible protest _ will_ be made to the proposed in regaid to the extra portion of cost imposed on the local bodies by the Auckland Harbour Board's restrictions providing for a canal scheme. A letter was received from the Mount Eden Borough Council protesting against Mount Eden being called upon to contribute in any degree towards the cost ol building a new bridge. _ As its connection with it was so slight, it was felt that if it is to be liable there can be no limit to the demand for contributions from other local bodies for any work tliat may be carried out. A similar letter was received from the Henderson Town Board.