THE NEW TUNNEL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 82, 16 October 1928, Page 8

THE NEW TUNNEL

EARLY START URGED That the City Council should be urged. to proceed with the construction of the proposed tunnel to Hataitai as soon as possible was the opinion expressed by Mr. E. O.^ Thornton at the annual meeting of the Eastern Suburbs League last evening. The steady growth of the eastern ..suburbs fully warranted, he said, a start being made with the-tunnel. "It appears now," said Mr. Thornton, "that the tunnel proposal is being. submerged in the agitation for better access to the western suburbs, but the proposal should not be allowed to fall into the background in favour of work in other parts of the city." (Hear, hear.) At abater stage in the meeting, the chairman (Mr. A. C. Blake) said that the council should be urged to make a start with the tunnel even if the ratepayers failed to carry the proposals for a costlier scheme at the poll in April: ' The tunnel would give work for many unemployed men.. . Mr. A. G. Jorgensen thought that it would be very little use urging, the council to make a start at the present time. It was unlikely that the council would be content to start the job with only a-propor-tion of the expenditure ratified..' Further, the work would be available only to skilled men. Mr. W. F. Sherwood, who had moved that the league recommend the council to make a start with the tunnel, pointed out that approaches at least could be commenced with the money already voted. Searle and carried Mr. P. E. Cairns, one of those who opposed the motion, asked if members knew whether an engineer capable of undertaking the work was available. • Mr. Sherwood rose to a point of order, and the meeting passed on to other business. - .