Harbour Plans

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30389, 13 March 1964, Page 3

Harbour Plans

Sir,—Surely Mr W. B. Laing cannot be serious when he suggests a causeway across the upper Lyttelton harbour near Quail Island. He certainly revealed nothing of this idea to Governors Bay residents when he sought reelection to the harbour board. How can he reconcile his statement that there would be both industrial and most desirable residential areas in the same district? Who would build near factory sites? Certainly not the type Mr Laing wants to attract. Surely a better site for industry would be Heathcote, Mr Laing’s own back door, or does Mr Laing,' as a county councillor, see good grounds for the amalgamation of Heathcote and Mount Herbert in this regard?— Yours, etc., KING CANUTE. March 8, 1964. [Mr Laing replies: “No doubt your correspondent is one of those who, at the top of his voice, demands highpressure water, sewerage, footpaths, and other improvements, all the while fulminating that rates are too high. Yet when a practicable and reasonable scheme is suggested that would provide the basis for the increase in population necessary to finance these improvements at a price the residents can afford, he sets himself against the tide of new ideas in a personal way. Better and more direct access would assist in the development of Diamond Harbour and Charteris Bay and so result in a considerable increase in population. This improved access could be simply achieved by a combination of causeway approaches and ample bridging from the present reclamation to Quail Island and thence to the shore. Adequate passages could be retained for tide flow and for small craft access, at the same time paving the way for the reclamation for commercial purposes of the mud flats nearer Teddington. Such a scheme would provide work-places for people who must how travel by launch, train and bus to work. It would enable the improved access to be built at absolutely no cost to ratepayers in the district, and would leave Governors Bay completely undisturbed except for the distracted and anonymous criticisms of ‘King Canute.’ ”]