HARBOUR BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 22, 26 January 1934, Page 3

HARBOUR BRIDGE.

WARRANTED UTILITY. CITY COUNCIL OPINION. REQUEST FROM LONDON, In the opinion of the Auckland City Council, as expressed for overseas consumption, in response to a request from the Bridge Company, the construction of the Auckland Harbour Bridge is a warranted public utility. The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, reported to" last night's meeting of the City Council that 011 December 4 he had received from the secretary of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Co., Ltd., the following letter: —"I am directed by my board to solicit your kind help in the following matter: A cablegram has been received by my board from the financiers in London who are taking up the matter of financing the building of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, asking 'That Auckland City Council, Harbour Board and Northcote Borough send cablegrams and confirmatory letters to Wray Smith advising that in their opinions the bridge is immediately required, and 011 the basis of the ferry receipts during the last four years the income from tolls would pay an interest of 6 per cent on £1,000,000 and other outgoings contemplated by Statute, including the sinking fund.' " An informal meeting of the council 011 January 10 discussed the question and appointed a committee comprising the Mayor and Messrs. T. Bloodvvorth, H. P. Burton and G. Grey Campbell to report 011 the matter to the next ordinary meeting. Accordingly the committee last night recommended that the following reply be forwarded: —"The Auckland City Council is of opinion that to cater for the traffic at present using trans-harbour vehicular services, plus the undoubted increase that would follow its construction, a harbour bridge is a warranted public utility. The council considers it is not within its province to furnish estimates of revenue, but will be pleased to supply tallies and all other evidence available to it from which those interested should be able to form their own estimates, to compile which its experience of traffic "growth, following completion of traffic 1 bridges in other parts of the world, should provide a reliable guide." The report was adopted.