EASTERN SUBURBS TUNNEL

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 136, 5 March 1929, Page 12

EASTERN SUBURBS TUNNEL

« — TENDERS TO BE CALLED FOR WILL 1920 SANCTION BE SUFFICIENT ACCESS LOANS DELETED FROM SCHEDULE As a result of a resolution passed by the City Council yesterday, the loan proposals for Eastern and Western Suburbs access amounting to £175,800, were deleted from the loan schedule, which it was decided on February 7 to put ■ before the ratepayers. Tenders are to be invited forthwith for the Eastern Suburbs tunnel, working on the loan authorised in 1920. Several councillors were of opinion that improved methods of "r tunnel construction would enable the work to be carried out • for something approximating to the original loan authorised, amounting to £161,250. Nd work will be done at the approaches until the consent of the Leans Board is obtained. A special meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon to consider the following notice of motion by Councillor G. Mitchell: — “That in view of the complications which may arise as a result of'the resolutions to submit to a poll of the ratepayers certain votes In their present form for the eastern and western suburbs access routes, and of the council’s duty •: to endeavour, if possible, to carry out the eastern suburbs access proposals under the loan authorised by the ratepayers in 1920: “(1) That the following items in the loan proposals as passed by the Wellington City Council on February 7, 1929, and all subsequent resolutions relative thereto be rescinded, (a) re improved access . to eastern suburbs £76,500, (b) re improved access to western' suburbs: £99,300. “(2) That an effort be made to carry out the works with the authority at present vested in the council. -' “(3) That the cost of the eastern access tunnel be ascertained by inviting tenders for the work forthwith, and on receipt of tenders consideration be given to further finance required, If any.” Conditions Unfavourable. In moving the motion, Councillor Mitchell said he hoped it would be discussed freely and without feeling. They might’ be led into difficulties if they proceeded' with thq two items on the loan schedule. He believed the poll would be taken under conditions which would not be favourable to them owing to the feeling which existed in eastern and western districts. Those anxious that the council should carry out the pledges regarding the tunnel would ask why the special sum should be devoted to western access without any similar sum for eastern access.. He did not thing they would get a reasonable expression of opinion if the vote was taken. There was the likelihood of those, voting only for the works in which they were interested, and those interested in neither would vote against both. If the total loan was turned down it would place the council in an awkward predicament. There was the question of Quinton’s Corner, which the Government and the council had agreed to, and if the loan was turned down they could not go on with Quinton’s Corner, and would thus hamper the war memorial scheme. There was some straightening and widening of the road to Karori included in the sum the ratepayers were to be asked to vote upon, much of which could be done from the unemployed loan and some from ordinary revenue.

Regarding the eastern tunnel, Councillor Mitchell said they had £161,000 plus the extra 10 per cent, they could raise, and there were indications that they could get a good deal done for the sum already authorised. They might not require the extra £76,000 it was proposed to ask for, but which the people would think was required if left in the schedule. If the proposed schedule was turned down they dare not then go on with the tunnel. There was algo the £25,000 for the track, which might cause the loan to be turned down as-being more or loss padded and not needed. - ModernTunnelling. With modern methods of tunnelling he thought the tunnel could be put through at a lower cost than estimated, and if that was so then it was not right to go to the ratepayers for an* other £76,000 to complete the job. They had had a commission of eminent men who had advised them there was no reason why they should not act on that advice and fulfil the pledges given so consistently with regard to. that work.

Councillor M. F. Luckie . seconded, saying that now the Government had reached the decision in regard to Quinton’s Corner it would be a very awkward position if the loan was turned down with the other proposals. The estimates for the tunnel were prepared some years ago. They should ascertain, before putting it in the loan proposals, whether the , tunnel could not be constructed within the means already authorised. It would be a great breach of faith if they were to run the risks mentioned. They should rescind the previous resolutions, obtain tenders for the tunnel so that they could get some idea if it could be done within the amount at their disposal. If more money was required it might be obtained from other sources.

Should get Tenders.

Agreeing that the western suburbs had a right to equal consideration with the eastern suburbs, Councillor: IL Semple said he believed the tunnel could be' done for the loan already authorised. He had a strong belief in the late city engineer, Mr. Morton, and costs had gone down considerably since he reported upon it. Improved methods were coming into the country in tunnel work, and would be used on such a job as this. Boring machines would penetrate the hardest ‘rock, and diggers performed the work which used to be done with shovels. The wisest thing would be to. call for tenders, when it would be time enough to go to the ratepayers. The report of the commission was enough to justify them in going ahead. There had been no opposition to the western access, although there was some objection to the £25,000 for the tram track. They were moving in tne dark in asking the ratepayers to approve a loan .which

might not be required. The council would be wise in making a start on the preliminary work in both these undertakings. He referred to the Mayor’s letter asking for the Government subsidy of £1 for £1 for the labour on the earthwork. “It will be far better to act in a manly way by telling the ratepayers that they deem it wiser not to proceed along the lines decided upon a few days ago rather than blunder on in a pugnacious sort of way with something we know to be wrong,” he concluded. “You have to bring your people to and from their business in the heart of the city as quickly as possible and as cheaply as possible.’ Councillor H. A. Huggins said the east would be only too pleased to see the western people get their access, and there should be' no delay in getting 011 "One of Two Alternatives. The Mayor agreed that the solution appeared to be one of two alternatives. The proposal he made in the first place was bound to meet with failure unless there was unanimity In the council and among the various sections of the community interested. That left the other alternative of cutting these items out and going ahead with the powers they had. He was disposed to agree to the proposal. (Applause.) They had been assured by their legal adviser that the way was clear so that they could proceed with the western suburbs, and even if an injunction was obtained there was nothing to prevent them going on with the work at the far end of Karorl. -The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

Specifications in a Month. Replying to questions, the Mayor said the city engineer had stated that in a month he could have plans and specifications ready and then call for tenders. If necessary, a special meeting of the council could be held to decide that tenders be called for. They were very busy with the plans, etc,, for' the new milk station, but they might give instructions for this work to be expedited in every possible way. In regard to the tunnel- approaches it was proposed to use unemployed labour. There was notice of motion by Councillor W. H. Bennett which should be disposed of at once, but if he would withdraw it it would be well. This Councillor Bennett declined to do, and he then moved: “That until such time as the loan proposals are put before the ratepayers no money be spent on works that are affected by the verdict of such vote.”

In moving the motion, he said it was the principle involved in his motion which he was concerned about. If these items were to be taken out of the loan proposals, they would not be affected by his motion. The proposals included the new viaduct, and It would not be a proper procedure l to go on with that work until the ratepayers had approved of it. The tunnel might cost more than they expected, and then they would have to go to the ratepayers for a loan to finish if, and they proposed to start on the earthworks as a preliminary to that work. Councillqr H. D. Bennett seconded the motion, saying he was anxious that tlje council should not make any further mistakes. If the tunnel cost more than the amount already sanctioned, and a poll for a further loan was refused, the position might be very awkward. Tenders would give them an idea of what the tunnel would cost, and if the existing authority would do the whole job. The Mayor said to have such a resolution on the books would place the council in a very ambiguous position. Would Councillor W. H. Bennett withdraw?

“I submit notice of motion is out of order,” said Councillor R. McKeen. The Mayor said the motion was ambiguous, and the best way was to vote upon it. Concillor W. H. Bennett said he was in favour of the unemployed loan, but he did not agree to the council spending money on works included iu 'a loan proposal before such proposals had been voted upon. “I am going to have the vote of the council on this matter, which is one of principle.” Estimates Exceeded.

Councillor R. Semple thought such a motion would, if passed, make it impossible for the council to carry on. The council would be in order in expediting matters by having the preliminary work done in order to proceed after securing tenders, otherwise the contractor could not get busy once the contract’ was let. Hundreds of Government jobs failed to come within the estimates. Northland’s tunnel estimate was £17,000, and it cost £40,000, but it was finished. Because the estimate might not be right, was no reason for holding the job up. The Mayor said the old mandate was subject to the approval, of the Loans Board. The motion was defeated on a show of hands, and on a division being taken, was defeated by 14 votes to two. Councillor H. D. Bennett said he had seconded the motion formally, and information which had-been forthcoming had told him what he desired to know. Approval First. A further motion was carried: “That until tenders are called for and the consent of the Local Bodies Loans Board obtained, no work is to be done at the approaches to the tunnel giving access to the Eastern Suburbs.” This will not prevent the council from proceeding with certain widening between Tinakori Road and Dryden’s Corner, which the Mayor said could be gone on with without question.