"TOOTH AND NAIL"

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 76, 31 March 1922, Page 4

"TOOTH AND NAIL"

OPPOSITION TO WAINUI ROUTE

CIT;Y COUNCILLORS' VIEWS.

A report on the viait to the Wairarapa to view 0110 of the proposed routes for the RimutcUa deviation was made to this City Council last night by Councillor W. H. Bennett. He said that the route pierced the hill by Lowry Bay and traversed the whole of the city watershed, then through another tunnel three miles and a-half long •to the Wairarapa Valley. He explained also the proposal for a route to Hawkes Bay. Personally, lie considered ii was unthinkable 'that any Government should construct two lines in the tame valley, especially with the development of motor traffic. As to the route through Wainui Valley, the council must oppose it in everj possible way. It v.'ds proposed to traverse the watershed which supplied the city. It was unthinkable to him that the council should consent to a railway traversing this area, with the possibility of pollution of the water-supply by stock trains, and'the more serious danger of fire de-at-i'oying the forest which now clothed the area. .They all knew the effect o£ forest on water-supply and if the bush were destroyed the city water-supply would be ruined. Councillor J. M. Dale, who was also a member of t?ie party, stated that the route would enter the city catchment area, at a point where the City Engineer proposed to construct a large dam. Mr. ■Coleman Phillips said that the City Engineer had abandoned the scheme, but they all knew he had not, and it was an important part of the ultimate scheme for city water-supply. Councillor Dale also criticised some of Mr. Phillips's statements. To his niind the whole thing was not worth consideration, but if it should ever be considered the council must fight it tooth and nail for ,the sake of the water-supply. Councillor O. B. Norwood said the council representatives had formed their opinions after a few hours' observation in a, motor-car. The water-supply question was -a matter for experts. If they could bring an enormous area of fertile land'within an hour and a-half of the city it would be of great importance to Wellington, and he hoped the council would not oppose the proposal without thorough consideration of all aspects. The Mayor (Mr. E. A. Wright) considered the selection of the route was a matter for experts. There was a differ-, ence of opinion as to which would be the best route, but they should not lose sight of the fact that there must be a deviation somewhere. Councillor I*. Frasev considered that the council experts should go into the question of what the effect would be upon the- water-supply. If it were shown that a route through the watershed would pollute the supply the council could do nothing but oppose it, but he wished to see a report from the city officers before anything definite was done. ■ . On the -motion of the Mayor the council's representatives were thanked for their report.