PARK ROAD RAMP

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 39, 14 August 1930, Page 8

PARK ROAD RAMP

A PROMISE CKITICISED

GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION

Some months ago a deputation waited on the Prime Minister, the late Sir Joseph Ward, with the request that the Government1 should undertake the construction of a ramp at the Petone railway crossing and over Park road. Tho Prime Minister informed the deputation that the Government would be willing' to provide two-tnirds of the f.ost of both ramps if the local bodies affected found the balance.

Later a letter from the General Manager of Railways was before the City and Suburban Highways Board on the subject, and in view of the difference Letween his statements and the statement of the Prime Minister, the board appointed several of its members to form a deputation to the Minister of Railways, with the object of obtaining confirmation of the promise given by the Prime Minister. The result of the deputation was a letter from the Hon. W. A. Veitch (Minister of Railways) read at a meeting of thn board yesterday, in which ne said he.thought it was apparent that the Prime Minister had misunderstood the position regaiding the importance of the railway line from the industrial area in Eastern Hutt, and had given his undertaking regarding the Park road ramp nnler a misapprehension. Th« Minister said that in view of the financial position of the" Government the present was not an opportune time to consider an expenditure of such a nature. The chairman of the City uo Subur* ban Highways Board (Mr. G. A. T*oup) was in agreement with the latter statement, but he was of opinion that the matter should be held in abeyance till t'.iO Government was in the position to justify the expenditure. The ramp would be important when the Wainui tunnel came to be made, and he submitted that there was no misapprehension in the Prime Minister's mind when he gave his answer to the deputation.

On the motion of the- Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. H. A. Jones) the attitude of the chairman of the board was ap-> proved, and it was agreed that in the meantime no demand should be made on the Government for the fulfilment of the promise given by Sir Joseph Ward.