A.A. Opposed To Tunnel Grant

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31045, 28 April 1966, Page 1

A.A. Opposed To Tunnel Grant

New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 27. The council of the New Zealand Automobile Association today failed to support a recommendation by the Director of Roading (Mr J. H. Macky) that grants be made by the National Roads Board towards Auckland Harbour bridge extensions and ChristchurchLyttelton tunnel operating costs.

A motion put forward by Auckland’s council representative, Mr J. B. I lorrocks, that the recommendation be supported, was defeated. 9-7.

The decision means that the council's representative on the National Roads Board, appearing for private motorists will vote against the recommendations at the next Roads Board meeting.

Mr Macky had recommended that the National Roads Board contribute £2 million to Auckland Harbour bridge extensions over a four or fiveyear period, and £lOO.OOO a year, for four years, to the Christchurch-Lyttelton tunnel authority.

Support for both projects was originally sought by North Shore local bodies. The two enterprises operate on a tolls system. Mr Horricks today urged the council to support Mr

Christchurch association, said he supported the recommendation as the bridge and tunnel were both part of the national roads system and should be free of tolls. Opposing the recommendation, Mr W. A. Sutherland (Wellington) said the original conditions already written into legislation stipulated that both ventures be paid for by tolls. “Both ventures are amenities serving local areas,” Mr Sutherland said. “Such a grant would drastically affect allocations to other areas.” Mr B. L. Ebbett (Manawatu) said his district had been told to cut future estimates by 50 per cent. “Because of the shortage of funds we can't look at the Manawatu Gorge for many years to come,” he said. Mr T. E. V. Turpin (Otago) said the National Roads Board should not have to pay out £2 million “for somebody else’s mistake.”

.Macky's recommendation because the bridge was an I essential part of a State highway system and the Automobile Association was opposed in principle to toll systems. “Support of this recommendation,” Mr Horrocks said, “will reduce the toll life of the bridge.” Mr Horrocks said the bridge ihad been built in a manner that was “a costly exercise jin failure to appreciate the growth of Auckland and motor traffic.” “The Auckland public.” he said, “had to pay for what it was told to have.” Built to cater for 1200 vehicles a lane an hour, the bridge was now carrying 3000 an hour, Mr Horrocks said. Mr Horrocks said his association and the Auckland people felt a £2 million grant by the National Roads Board to be a “very reasonable one”. Mr E. R. Casbolt, of the