ROAD THROUGH DOMAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 134, 8 June 1932, Page 8

ROAD THROUGH DOMAIN.

JOINT COMMITTEE TO REPORT TRAFFIC OR ACCESS ROADWAY ? DECISION TO-MORROW NIGHT. The joint committee of the City Council (town planning and reserves) will report to-morrow on the question of the proposed road from Stanley Street through the Domain over which there has been much controversy during recent months.

Mr. G. L. Taylor, chairman of the reserves committee, stated this morning that he had held the view from the commencement that, in the event of the road being constructed, practically no native trees -would he destroyed. "This has been upheld by the evidence placed before the committee," he said. "It has been generally admitted by the Institute of Horticulture and other societies and individuals that the trees on the proposed route cannot be considered of any value. The consensus of opinion, however, is that this road should not be constructed unless it is required for access to the Domain, to bring people to the winter garden and cricket ground. I am in accord with this. It was quite evident from the views expressed that the road should not be constructed for through traffic as a traffic outlet. Apart from this, all other objections were satisfactorily met and found to be groundless. "It must be remembered that in the early stage of the controversy the main objection was in respect to the destruction of native trees," Mr. Taylor added. The committee knew that this objection had no leg to stand upon. As a matter of fact, 60 per cent of the trees on the route are classed as weeds, and the construction of the road would have meant the cleaning up of the area. The privet is the principal offender in this respect It is a prolific grower and reaches a height of 30ft to 40ft Its growth is so rapid that it chokes everything else. There are also many baby karaka trees on the route, but they could have been transplanted. The Institute of Agriculture stated in evidence that not more than a dozen native trees, on the route would have to be destroyed Ihe parks committee welcomes constructive opimons and assistance of all competent authorities. It has been a little unfortunate that so many people without special knowledge shoufd he so anxious to express their views."