PORT CHRISTCHURCH REFERENDUM

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21808, 13 June 1936, Page 20

PORT CHRISTCHURCH REFERENDUM

TO THE EDITOR OT THE PRESS. Sir, —You published this morning the contents of a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, over the signatures of eight of our local business men, including that of the Maypr. asking that the petition recently presented to Parliament, praying for a plebiscite on the above question, signed by more than 3000 citizens, be set aside in favour of the tunnel scheme. It is very evident that the tunnelites have the wind up properly, and as a last-minute effort to avert defeat, have forwarded this rather autocratic request. I will not here probe into the bonafldes of the eight signatories save one, that of the president of the Automobile Association (Mr L. M. Wilson), who, I take it, signed as representing all the motorists of Canterbury. As a member

of this association of many years, standing, I protest against his action in doing so. and wish to point out that he has no grounds for supposing the majority of motorists to be tunnel supporters. On the contrary, I make bold to say, that if the council of the association cared to take a vote of members, it would find an overwhelming preference for the Port Christchurch Estuary scheme. —Yours, etc., MOTO. June 12, 1936. ,