HAMPERED CITY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 125, 29 May 1930, Page 10

HAMPERED CITY

TUNNEL ROAD DESIRED CHRISTCHURCH AND PORT (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) | CHRISTCHURCH, 28th May. Fear of victimisation by the Bailway Department led to two of the witnesses before the Direct Access to Sea Commission to-day to ask for suppression of their names, and a third to give his evidence in camera. After the hearing of further expert evidence on ventilation and lighting, and the feasibility and necessity of the tunnel road, the league presented as witnesses city merchants and business men representing a wide variety of interests. Their "evidence was that the present system of transport between Lyttelton and Christchurch is out of date, that the Railway Department, though frequently approached, had made no serious effort to improve it, that delays in the transport of cargo wero from three to twelve days, that pillaging and breakages were increasing, and that the solution of their difficulties lay in immediate access to the port, which would be provided by a tunnel road. Evidence was given showing that the transport charges would be less by road than rail, particularly when the tonnage was calculated by measure-

ment. The Christchurch City Engineer (Mr. A. K. Galbraith), the engineer to the Waimakariri Biver Trust (Mr. H. W. Harris), and an experienced ventilating engineer (Mr. H. F. Pureell) were the experts who gave evidence, and the managing director of Aulsebrook and Co., Ltd. (Mr. E. E. M'Dougall), and tho general manager of Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company, Lta. (Mr. W. R. Carey) were prominent representatives of manufacturing interests. All strongly advocated tho making oi' a tunnel road to Lyttelton. The taking of evidence is expected to occupy ten days.