NEW CAUSEWAY AT SUMNER.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20647, 9 September 1932, Page 10

NEW CAUSEWAY AT SUMNER.

ARRANGING THE FINANCE. IMMEDIATE START RECOMMENDED. The scheme for constructing a new causeway across McCormack's Bay, on the road from Christchurch to Sumner, was further advanced at a conference of the special committee of representatives of the local bodies concerned last night. It was decided to recommend to the local bodies that the work should start immediatelyi and it was stated that £1720 of the required cost V)f £2400 was covered by the recommendations of local body representatives. Any obstacles in the way of an immediate start on the work were small. Mr E. H. Andrews presided and others present were the Rev. F. T. Read, Messrs J. McCombs, M.P., J. W. Beanland, J. S. Barnett, H. Kitson, G. Maginness, A. Holden, H, W. Harris, A. Manhire, A. G. Williams, W. W. Scarff, and A. R. Galbraith., Question of Cost. The chairman said that the main subject for discussion was the report of the sub-committee regarding the basis of contribution towards the cost of the scheme by the local bodies concerned. The overhead cost of the work would b~ £ 2400. On a population basis the proportion of contribution would be: Christchurch City Council, £2174; Sumner Borough Council, £BS; and Heathcote County Council, £ 141. It had been suggested that the cost should be* allocated according to the number of motor drivers' licenses in the various districts. Working on that basis the contributions would be: Christchurch City Council, £2093; Sumner Borough Council, £ll2 15s; and Heatheote County Council, £194 ss. Some members considered that those three bodies should not be the only ones asked to make contributions. Fendalton and Riccarton people would also benefit from the results of the scheme, and Lyttelton would share as 'well. City Council's Quota; The Christchurch City Council considered that its proportion was too great, continued the chairman. However, the representatives on the committee were prepared to recommend that the City Council should find £ISOO. The representatives of Sumner had agreed to recommend their council to find £l2O and Heatheote £IOO. That totalled £1720 out of the required £2400. The amount was sufficient to justify the recommendation that the work should be commenced immediately and it was desirable to make a start as soon as possible. Each local body had confessed that' it would be difficult to find the money out of the current year's revenue, but an immediate commencement was more than justified. The sub-committee's report, as ' outr lined by the chairman, was adopted, and it was decided, on tho motion of Mr Harris, to recommend to the local bodies that the work should be put in hand immediately. Mr Harris asked if the ' committee would go out of existence as- soon as the recommendation was handed-. on. "Should not the local bodies-appoint representatives to a committee to see the thing through?" he asked.

The chairman: That will not be necessary. The City Council has*undertaken to look after the supervision and we will not disband until the work is under way.

The question of approaching other local bodieß for contributions was discussed in committee.