Tunnel talks 'unseemly’

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 21

Tunnel talks 'unseemly’

Christchurch local bodies, were being presumptuous in discussing a take-over of the Christchurch-Lyttelton Road 1 unnel Authority’s work before a decision had been made to abolish the authority. said its chairman (Mr V. G. Spiller) yesterday. It seemed an "unseemly I wrangle” for the Christchurch City Council and the Lyttelton Harbour Board to be trying to find a successor to the authority before the Minister of Finance (Mr Mui- ; doon) had decided on their' requests, said Mr Spiller. The Mayor (Mr H. G. Hay) i said that the authority’s j abolition was not a precondi-'

ition of Government aid but! it had been suggested to Mr Muldoon last week, after he: had asked whether anyone would be prepared to take I over the tunnel, that it might; ■be an opportunity to reduce' the number of local bodies; in Canterbury. “At this stage we haven’t : really got down to any detail,” said Mr Hay. “That! is the reason for early talks.” Mr Hay said that the tunnel, authority would be included in the talks. Mr Spiller said that even i |if tolls were abolished there! had been no suggestion that! the authority itself should be' | abolished. Neither the City I, 'Council nor the Harbour I

Board had shown how either! could run the tunnel more I i efficiently than at present. ! Even with no tolls many! !of the tunnel’s present run-| ; ning costs would remain. ! : “If the City Council were; Ito take over the running of;, the tunnel I cannot imagine! jits ratepayers being happy ! with the extra rates,” said Mr! j Spiller. ! “As far as the Harbour! Board is concerned, I cannot j see why it should wish to add ■ Ito its financial problems. It! would be better employed in j ! endeavouring to arrest the! I decline in tonnage through I ■ the port as this decline is one j ,of the causes of the author- ! ity’s difficulties.”