TUNNEL ROAD

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22083, 4 May 1937, Page 10

TUNNEL ROAD

Prime Minister's Undertaking MR V. E. HAMILTON REPLIES TO CRITICISM "The Chamber of Commerce does not want to mislead anyone, and it honestly believes that the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) intended I that, if the Christchurch people decided that they wanted a tunnel road, the Government would undertake the work," said the president of the Chamber (Mr V. E. Hamilton) to a representative of "The Press" yesterday in referring to the criticism of some members of the Tramway Eoard Over the question of finding the money for the suggested road. In proof of his bona fides, Mr Hamilton quoted the following newspaper extract from the report, of the Prime Minister's remarks at a function held on February 19, at which he met the Chamber of Commerce: — "I have been told Christchurch wants a tunnel road; but I wonder if anyone wants a harbour. We want to create assets and not inflict anything on a place like Christchurch. Christchurch should be able to decide for itself and make representations to the Government on the case of a harbour or a tunnel. When an unanswerable case is presented, the Government will have something to go upon. Let Christchurch put its shoulder to the wheel, and let these representatives come to me and say, 'We have decided we have done our part.' When we get a definite announcement it is not our place to argue or reason why. All we have to do then is to think out the most economic way of doing the Job. . . . I am satisfied that it has to be something, and if we get more deflniteness from Christchurch people themselves, we will do the job. (Applause.) We won't take 10 years over it either. We will go right ahead." "These remarks of the Prime Minister were further confirmed by him at a deputation which waited upon him the following day," Mr Hamilton added. "This deputation was attended by the Mayor (Mr J. W. Beanland), and representatives of a number of other bodies. Every person present was impressed with Mr Savage's desire to, start a major work near Christchurch to alleviate unemployment. The tunnel road was discussed and the deputation certainly understood that if the conference which Mr Savage suggested came to a favourable decision, the works would be proceeded with." Commenting on the above quotation, Mr Hamilton said the Prime Minister recognised the great need for a major work near the city because of the serious position over unemployment,, and there was no doubt that the many persons present at the gathering attended by Mr Savage believed that providing Christchurch could decide that it wanted the tunnel, the Government would see to its construction. The Chamber kne"- that there was approximately £10,000.000 available for that class of expenditure this year, and upon a population basis. North Canterbury was entitled to about £1,000,000 of this sum in one year. NEW BRIGHTON'S DELEGATION MAYOR'S IMPRESSIONS OP CONFERENCE In his report to the New Brighton Borough Council last night on the recent ttc.mel road conference, the Mayor (Mr E. L. Smith) said the impression he gained at the gathering was that the. hands ot the various delegates were tied, and, furthermore, that most of them spoke on the assumption that the Government had promised to bear the whole cost of the work. The president of the Chamber of Commerce had read a report of the Prime Minister's remarks on the point and, said Mr Smith, it was thought by delegates that the Chamber had mistaken the full meaning of Mr Savage's statement.