DIFFICULTIES OF MOUNT RESIDENTS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13269, 20 February 1941, Page 4

DIFFICULTIES OF MOUNT RESIDENTS

NEED FOR BETTER ACCESS__STRESSED WANT TO BE NEARER TO TAURANGA DISCUSSION BY CHAMBER OP COMMERCE The desire of the people living at Mount Maunganui to be brought nearer to Tauranga was expressed by several representatives from that district when speaking of the need for beiter access at the monthly meeting of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday evening. Some of the suggestions discussed were tar-sealing of the highway to the Mount, the erection of a bridge across the harbour and the provision of a vehicular ferry, the opinion being that the chamber should concentrate its energies on having the highway sealed. Several representatives from the Mount were present at the meeting and the following new members from that area were elected: Messrs J. C. Bates, E. W. Tappenden, E. C. Banks, C. B. Miller, C. H. Taylor, R. F. Ward and J. Barney. The President (Mr G. G. Norris) expressed pleasure at seeing Mount Maunganui so well represented at the meeting. Now that the Mount was taking an interest he could see the breaking down of the barrier that had always existed between the people of the Mount and those of Tauranga. By working together much good could be obtained. Mr F, N. Christian also expressed pleasure at seeing the Mount representatives at the meeting. He felt that if they worked together much could be done to benefit the people at the Mount and Tauranga generally. . There was a time when the Mount people thought Tauranga was opposed to their aspirations and desired to keep them down, but that feeling had now disappeared. The future of the Mount had much to do with the future of Tauranga. Transport Problems

When replying to the welcome, Mr Tappenden mentioned that. the reason for the gap between the people of the Mount and the people of Tauranga was part and parcel of the Mount's transport problems. "We don't know the Tauranga people at all," he said. Referring to the access to the Mount, Mr Tappenden said that at the present time there were two routes. One was by means of the road, which had been improved but which could be subject to a lot more work, and the other was provided by the ferry service. The reason why members at the Mount had been unable to attend meetings more regularly was the inadequacy of the transport facilities, otherwise a good deal more would be seen of them. Schemes mentioned by Mr Tappenden for improving access to the Mount including the decking of the railway bridge to enable it to take road traffic, and the provision of a vehicular ferry from Sulphur Point to a site hear the aerodrome wharf. He felt sure these proposals were worth investigating. He thought efforts might also be made to have the ferry service timetable revised to the advantage of the people at the Mount.

The time has arrived when -we should try and improve our lot," said Mr Tappenden, who was Quite sure the residents at Mount Maunganui would do all they could to assist the chamber in its efforts. Meeting at the Mount Pleasure at the interest beingshown by the Mount Maunganui representatives was also expressed by Mr C. F. Washer. He assured the visitors that the chamber was a fairly large and active body, and was anxious to assist any move for the benefit of the district. "I - feel sure we could do a lot more by working together," said Mr Washer, who moved that the April meeting of the chamber be held at Mount Maunganui. The motion was seconded by Mr L. Warde and carried. Referring to the access to the Mount, Mr Christian said the chain ber had consistently advocated the sealing of the highway, and it did feel this work should be done. "Worst in District" The road to the P.lount was, in the opinion of Mr Christian, the worst m the whole district. This was not caused by local traffic but by the tourist traffic, and in view of this he thought the money for tar-sealing it should come out of the Consolidated Fund.

The proposal to erect a traffic bridge, said' Mr Christian, was an important one and should be kept in view. The question of providing a punt to carry vehicles across the harbour had been discussed. The Fublic Works Department considered that it would be impossible to operate such a punt on wire ropes because of the strength of the tides and the distance. It would therefore be necessary to have a highpowered boat and that would be very expensive. Mr Christian thought the best thing to do at present was to press for the sealing of the road. Mr Bates said the people .at the Mount felt that they should be brought a little nearer to Tauranga. The Mopunt was a part of Tauranga and if some scheme for crossing the harbour could be taken in hand, it would be one of the best moves ever made. "A Long Way Away" "We are just across the. water but we are a long way away," said Mr Bates. "The time has arrived when the two* places should be connerted by a shorter route." The president was of the view that the chamber should concentrate on endeavouring to get the road, sealed and a traffic bridge erected. Mr B. P. Andrews thought that if

the various schemes were considered and placed before the government something would be obtained in the future. It was pointed out by Mr Tappen den that his reason for mentioning the various proposals was to show that the people at the Mount were in need of immediate relief. Another nroposition mentioned by him was that it might be possible to Utilise the disused railwav track' which ran to the Mount at the present time.