HARBOUR BRIDGE

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21034, 9 December 1933, Page 16

HARBOUR BRIDGE

SUBSIDY FOR AUCKLAND SCHEME I XE.NI'LOY.MENT BOARD'S GRANT irnr.su issociATiox tii.ioriu.i AUCKLAND, December 8. The Treasury and the Unemployment Board were satisfied that, tin; construction of the Auckland harbour bridge should be treated as a truly national work, and one which reasonably could be subsidised out of unemployment funds, said Mr A. Harris, M.P., at the annual meeting of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Company. He was not at liberty to say how great the subsidy would be, but the board had treated the work in a manner similar to the subsidised- building scheme. "The board, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, has agreed to provide a straight-out subsidy on the cost of the labour on tho bridge," said Mr Harris. "In round figures, between £ 100,000 and £200,000 was made available in Now Zealand toward financing the bridge, and of that sum about twothirds is a straight-out cash gift or subsidy from the Unemployment Board toward the labour costs. It is estimated that the work will employ 400 men for not less than three years, and during that time the subsidy will be handed ever." He had with him a cablegram sent to the Prime Minister on November 24 by the New Zealand High Commissioner in London, it was a confidential document, but' he could read the first sentence. It was: "Reputable underwriters here have definitely undertaken to provide finance for the construction of the harbour bridge." The cablegram, said Mr Harris, went on to detail certain conditions. The report and balance-sheet were adopted, and a vote of confidence in the directors was carried.