BRIDGE OR TUNNEL?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1937, Page 9

BRIDGE OR TUNNEL?

OTAHUHU OPINIONS DIFFuk.

The Otahuhu Borough Council last evening received a letter from the Birkenhead Borough Council stating that the opinion of local bodies as far south as Pukekohe was being sought on the harbour bridge question, the scheme favoured being that of the bridge being a national undertaking. Mr. J. J. Graham opposed the building of a bridge, as he considered that it would interfere with the development of the new air transport service from America. He favoured a tunnel.

The Mayor, Mr. C. R. Petrie, M.P., said that the council was only asked to consider the bridge scheme, not the merits of the two schemes. The council had passed a previous resolution in favour of the bridge, but stated they were not prepared to contribute towards the cost of a bridge. Mr. Graham's motion that the council urge the construction of a tunnel was defeated, and an amendment, proposed by Mr. Sinclair, that the council favour the undertaking of a means of direct communication as a national undertaking, was carried. Papakura Not Interested. "I think that owing to the distance Papakura is from the Auckland harbour the Papakura Town Board cannot express any opinion upon the question of a harbour bridge," said Mr. G. F. McDonald at a meeting of the Papakura Town Board last evening, when a letter was read from the Birkenhead Borough Council asking Papakura to appoint a representative upon a deputation.

Mr. D. Weir said he was in favour of a bridge as long as Papakura was not asked to pay for it.

The chairman, Mr. H. E. McEntee, thought Mr. McDonald was right. Papakura was not interested in the bridge, and he would move that no representative be appointed. His resolution was carried.