ACCESS TO THE SEA

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21743, 27 March 1936, Page 19

ACCESS TO THE SEA

to tb> isnoß or tsb rases. Sir,—,! notice in your columns reports of a deputation from the Unemployment Committee waiting upon the Port Christchurqh League and the Tunnel Road League, to ask these two bodies to agree to abide by the decision'of an expert on the matter of access - to the sea.

Now, have we not had the opinion of experts over and over again, and have not these opinions been practically unanimous in favour of the estuary scheme? ■ The Tunnel Road League seems to be endeavouring to thrust the responsibility upop the Chamber of Commerce, Automobile Association, Progress League, etc. I want to know what authority these bodies have to voice the wishes of the community?

Absolutely none. Not long ago, in answer to a deputation from the Port Christchurch League the then Prune Minister (Mr Forbes) said that if the people of Christchurch and North Canterbury could show him that they desired the port, he would assist them to get it, ~ . - The Hon. R. Semple (Minister for Public 'Works) said practically the same thing in answer to a deputation from the same body. He said: “When the people decide what they want, I will look into the matter." Both these

gentlemen- have taken the right stand, and there is .only one way of obtaining the wishes of the people, and that is by a referendum. With further reference to the Chamber of Commerce and Automobile Association, and Progress League* when we come down to bedrock, who constitute these bodies? I do not think I am far out when I say that if a conference was called of their respective executives they could hold it in a

telephone box. It is the voice of the people we want on a matter like this—and there is only one way to get it. When we have the wishes of the people defined, then we will get a hearing. Only last night, in the Town Hall at Wellington, I heard the Prime Minister say that the new Government, was out to govern for the people as a whole, and he/welcomed the co-operation of the people. Let me remind you that the first big blunder which has retarded the growth and prosperity of this city and surrounding district for 50 yeari or more was the whim of one man, the late William Sefton Moorhouse, not the people. I refer to the building of the Lyttelton tunnel, I only hope and pray the same blunder will not be repeated.—Yours, etc., CONFIDENT. March 26, 1936.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—lt is earnestly to be hoped that the fate of Christchurch is not to be entrusted to the Chamber of Commerce or other local bodies. There is too much trepidation there owing to conflicting Interests, vested and otherwise. So far as an outsider can gather, a few vehement talkers have succeeded in making the members toe the line in favour of a tunnel road, though

whether the opinion is unanimous or whether a resolution was carried by vote is not known to the writer. But this is known, that exactly the some forces were arrayed against the Manchester ship canal and they were defeated by the general public outside these institutions. It is not exactly a parallel cose admittedly, as our local tunnel rocders are for progress, but they are really reactionaries and do not know it. They do not seem to grasp the fact that the tunnel roads expenditure of half a million will represent only 25 per cent, of the total expenditure as £750.000 is required for sufficient improvement in Lyttel-

ton to justify the spending of the first hah-million, and at the finish, there is no moro land room in Lyttelton. For a fraction of that sum we can try out the prospect via the Estuary and find out whether it Is proving a success before we go any further. The advantage Port Christchurch advocates have is that their project is loaded

■with options as to scope and financial outlay, whereas the tunnel road advocates are tied to a scheme involving the expenditure of half a million in the first place and an estimated £750,000 ultimately- It is not a matter so much for cold calculation, as courage and faith, and .belief In our community to force our city to the front by means of a local facility.— Yours, etc., cj ,.m, March 26, 1936.