DELEGATION TO GOVERNMENT ON NORTH OUTLET

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 17

DELEGATION TO GOVERNMENT ON NORTH OUTLET

While supporting an early start for a northern motorway. a protest meeting in Rangiora last evening condemned the route announced last week by the National Roads Board. A six-man committee was set up to wqit on the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoakei or the Minister of Works (Mr Goosman) to present the decisions of the meeting. A further public meeting will be called after discussions with one of the ministers to hear the committee’s report. About 120 persons attended the meeting, including some members from county councils in the area, and two members of the North Canterbury Catchment Board, who attended in their private capacity. Motion Carried

The following motion with three major points was submitted by Messrs B. A. Fitzpatrick and W. W. Wood and approved:— • “(1) This meeting supports the early construction of the proposed northern outlet from Christchurch.

“(2) This meeting condemns the Ministry of Works proposed green route.

“(3) The Government be urged to construct a route which does not constitute a flood hazard: conforms to the principle of civil defence: and is so placed to give access to that area of Christchurch (that is. the west) where surveys show the greatest number 'of persons wish to go” On the motion of Mr R. J. Gillespie (Cust) it was decided to form a committee to wait oh the Prime Minister or the Minister of Works to convey the views of the meeting, the chairman of which was Mr R. H. Bowron. The committee is: Messrs W. W. Wood (Rangiora), C. M. Harman (Swannanoa), S. C. Skurr (Ohokai. B. A. Fitzpatrick (Rangiora), F. W. Walter < Clark ville), and G. E. Koller (Rangiora). So far, local bodies had been met individually by representatives of the Ministry of Works, the meeting was told. Mr A. G. van Asch,

supporting the setting up of a committee, said such a body was needed to follow up the resolutions until the Government or some appointed representative

“comes down and sees these local bodies” at a combined meeting. Surveys taken by the Regional Planning Authority showed the bulk of the traffic was to the west of Colombo street, and this tendency was evidently increasing.' said speakers advocating a more westerly access to Christchurch. Flood Danger Claims were made by speakers, including the two catchment board members. Messrs H. H. Petrie and C. S. Ayers, that a western route would lessen the flood danger. Shingle from the headwaters of the Waimakariri river was deposited near the main road bridge, said Mr Ayers, but somewhere in between the bed was stable, and that was where the bridge should go. Only one speaker, Mr V. Giles, of Clarkville. was in favour of placing the bridge near the present road and rail bridges. Quoting figures on soil types and fertility. Mr Harman. chairman of the Eyre County Council, said the green route crossed some of

the best agricultural land in New Zealand, and that this country should be safeguarded. In replying to a suggestion that the present main road would do for a number of years. Mr Fitzpatrick said the meeting was called by persons using the road for business, as an access to the city Those who use the road on Sundays were doing so in

"their own sweet time.” and could loiter along. Regular users were very tired of the road through Belfast. From Belfast Hotel to Christchurch was the longest part of the journey in time, and merely improving that part of the highway as a continuation of the motorway from Chaneys would not remove the present 30-mile-an-hour restriction. Also, many firms serving the farming community were now located to the west of the city.