'SURPRISED AND HURT'

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1935, Page 3

'SURPRISED AND HURT'

NORTH SHORE LOCAL BODIES. WILL NOT RELAX EFFORTS. The following combined statement was made this moving by the Mayor of Nortlicote, Mr. R Martin, the Mayor of Takapuna, Mr. J. Guinivcn, the Mayor of Birkenhead, Mr. G. Mills, and the Takapuna riding member on the Waitemata County Council, Mr. J. C. Ronnie: —

"We cannot but be surprised and hurt by what we must regard as the extra; ordinary action of the Auckland Cly Council. In common with nearly all the local authorities around Auckland, the city joined in Rending strong cables to London supporting the bridge project. Then it was felt advisable that t'# '>#al bodies should take a more prominent, part in the scheme than was originally proposed. A schemo was prepared by the mayors and county representative named above, and submitted to the Auckland Harbour Bridge Company fo.r its approval. Since the only object of the latter is to have the bridge built they cordially agreed to the proposals, which were those placed before tho City Council. It should be emphasised that these did not emanate from the Bridge Company, but from those holding .responsible offices on the North Shore. "Under the scheme submitted to the city there would have been a minimum of borrowing from outside sources, largescale and useful employment at standard rates would have been found, and the local bodies would from tho inception of building have had practical control, since they were to have nine seats out of twelve on the company's directorate. "A Toll-free Bridge." "The scheme was submitted to the Auckland City Council in all good faith, and those responsible feel extremely hurt by the cavalier treatment accorded it by the City Council last night. The proposals submitted would have secured a serviceable, toll-free bridge in a minimum period. We feel that the City Council must accept a grave responsibility for its refusal to consider the scheme submitted by us—not by the Bridge Company. We feel most strongly that the only practicable method to secure the harbour bridge is to co-operate with the company, and, instead of cancelling the charter, work along lines which will ensure public and representative control of finance, construction and operation from the very outset. "If the attitude of the City Council is adhered to, and if it were concurred in by us, it would mean the death knell of the project. We are determined that this shall not happen, and for the good of Auckland as well as for our own areas we intend to carry the negotiations through and will not relax our efforts until success has been achieved. "Finally, since all the city requirements can be achieved by the scheme suggested by iis and , approved by the Bridge Company, we cannot but wonder what action the people of Auckland will take in tho matter."