MR FRASER AT DEVONPORT

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25945, 27 October 1949, Page 4

MR FRASER AT DEVONPORT

THE ELECTION

HARBOUR BRIDGE TO BE BUILT

HIGH COST OF PROJECT (New Zealand Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 27. The Prime Minister 4Mr Fraser) gave a political address at Devonport this evening. Both Mr Fraser and Dr. A. M. Finlay, M.P., were given a cordial reception by an audience of about 800, and their speeches were punctuated by only a few interjections. A motion of confidence in Mr Fraser and the Government, with a pledge of support for Dr. Finlay, was carried with one dissentient.

Mr Fraser said it was likely that a commission would be set up to report on the need to compensate s the Devonport Steam Ferry Company for the affect on its undertaking of the construction of an Auckland harbour bridge. He was replying to Dr. Finlay, who had asked him what the Government Would do to see the services were satisfactorily maintained until the harbour bridge was built. The Government had decided upon the construction of the bridge and it would go forward as rapidly as possible, said Mr Fraser. It was a big undertaking and would cost millions of pounds and could, not be embarked upon without full investigations. < . Discussing the Government’s policy to, provide loans for people to build homes, Mr Fraser said that incases of honest, hard-working people up to 100 per cent, of the cost would be lent. Repayment would be at the rate of 30s a week or less. It was not an original scheme, having been operated voluntarily by the State Advances Corporation. It was also in operation in Queensland. f