Tunnel promise 'made in 1959'

Press, 7 April 1978, Page 4

Tunnel promise 'made in 1959'

Canterbury interests gave their word in 1959 that the province would pay for the Lyttelton road tunnel, the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) has said. He was replying to the writer of a letter to “The Press,” Mr G. Coyle, who said that this newspaper had carried a report quoting Mr Muldoon as saying that the people of Canterbury had given “an express promise . . . that they would pay for the tunnel.” Mr Coyle said he would like to know the date and form of the alleged promise, and if it was legally binding on the “people of Canterbury.” Mr Muldoon has replied, saying that there had been strong provincial support for a tunnel even before 1930, In 1956. an act of Parliament was passed setting up the Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority and empowering it to build and run a tunnel. In 1959, the authority had sought permission to raise a $3.25M loan to build the tunnel. The Loans Board had originally deferred consideration of the application until

1961, believing that comp! tion of the tunnel should lv timed to coincide with planned harbour improvements at Lyttelton, said Mr Muldoon. I However, this deferment had raised an “immediate and loud protest,” he said, and a delegation had called on the then Prime Minister, Sir Walter Nash, to object to lit. This meeting took place lon October 14, 1959. and (included representatives of all local authorities in the (greater Christchurch area, j industry and commerce. ! trade unions, and the Lyttel(ton Harbour Board. Mr Muldoon said it was [ said by the chairman of the ■ Tunnel Authority at that meeting that “Canterbury I would be paying for the tuni nel eventually because it was jthe users who would pay.” | This undertaking had been supported by representatives, I including trade unionists, j who had attended the meet- ! ing, Mr Muldoon said. j “Approval to go ahead • with the tunnel was made on this basis,” he said. "The j tunnel was opened in late (February, 1964.”