UNDERGROUND RAILWAY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25555, 24 July 1948, Page 8

UNDERGROUND RAILWAY

MR SEMPLE DISCUSSES AUCKLAND PLAN

“MAY GO TO AMERICA FOR EQUIPMENT”

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. July 23.

The possibility of his visiting the United States after the end of the present session of Parliament to obtain up-to-date tunnelling equipment was mentioned by the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) when replying to-day to a deputation of 12 Auckland members of Parliament. Mr Semple was discussing plans for an underground railway in Auckland. “The Commissioner of Works (Mr E. R. McKillop) has been sent to London to get the best equipment, and he is also going to the United States,” said Mr Semple. “I may go myself after the session if I can to get to know the best methods available. I am satisfied that the Americans can beat us hands down underground. How they do it I don’t know.” The Minister also said that another task for Mr McKillop was to try to obtain engineers from overseas. Mr Semple said that 2600 tons - of steel was being imported from Belgium, as well as 400 tons from England. The Belgian steel would cost £6O a ton, against £25 a .ton from Australia. New Zealand could do with twice as much steel as it was getting. While overseas Mr McKillop would endeavour to interest contractors in England and the United States in the construction of the Auckland harbour bridge. The District Commissioner of Works in Auckland (Mr R. H. Packwood) said that the Auckland Harbour Board had agreed to carry out tests by a modified form of boring for the foundations of the bridge. This was being done on behalf of the Works Department, and at the cost of the Government. The bridge would absorb at least 10,000 tons of steel and 12,000 tons of cement, which would build 500 rural bridges. In a later reference to the bridge Mr Semple said that tenders would be called from all parts of the world.