TO GO TO POLL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 94, 22 April 1931, Page 10

TO GO TO POLL

Access works

COMPLETION ESSENTIAL

BOTH EAST AND WEST

"The. necessity of completing the eastern and western access works was stressed by Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, the Civic League and Katepayers' Association candidate for the Mayoralty, speaking at Kilbirnie last, night. \ "It has been suggested," said Mr. Hislop, "that the present impasso in regard to eastern and western access has been brought about by the action of the Ratepayers', . Association. I don't think that that is' so, but I am not very much concerned whether it is so or not. If is my privilege to be supported', by the Eatepayers' Association ami also by the Civic League, but I am free as an individual to express my Own views, and I trust that. I am supported/because of the views I hold, arid not Because I am prepared to subscribe to the views of any particular tody—which 'I am not. I have- always held the''view that improved access to both' east and west is necessary, and that the' districts are entitled to that improved access." ' The whole question had been one or ways and means, continued Mr. Hislop Finance for the eastern access was found in'the loan authorisation of some years ago, aud means for western access were found, or were supposed to be found,1 in a sum from tramway reserves, from ■ unemployment rehet funds, and from a contribution of £16,----000 from the Electricity Department.' "And I may say here," he added, "that if I am elected as Mayor of this, city the Electricity, Department funds will not bo a source, as they have been in the past, to which other departments in need of, money can apply.. I consider, that that sum of £16,000 should be regarded as a, loan from the Electricity Department, not as a contribution.''

PUBLIC WORKS SAY NO. / eastern access^ work, continued Mr. Hislop, had progressed to the stage where' the tunnel was driven, the approaches were made, but the, road through; the tunnel has still to be made. It had been intended' that, the cost,of the- Toading work ; should, be in t large ; part -found by the. Tramway Department, but As an Order-in-Council had •teen .refused by the Public. Works Department .until a:.: poll had:been, taken, the, tramway : contribution was not , forthcoming, and there, were no other sufficient funds available., _ Similarly on the west an Order-in- - Council authorising the tramway work -: had' been' refused pending the, taking of a poll. He was fully conscious or the great benefits which would follow v the completion of the western access : route, for the districts which would be served were growing rapidly, and the n.ew route would greatly relieve the congestion in Molesworth street, would avoid the-necessity, of relaying the tracks in Tinakori road, and by shortening the time of the journey from .■■ Karori and Northland /would attract more passengers to the trams; but he did riot "think the roadwork could be completed until - finality had been leached in regard to the tramway connection. , ■■■■■.' , . SHOULD HAVE GONE TO POLL.

"I am definitely in favour of putting a road through and completing the ■work," he' continued, "but as matters stand at present we have no say in the matter, for the, law requires that we must have an order authorising the work, and that order has been declined.. In tho early stages I was in favour of the .whole question of the access works being submitted to the ratepayers, but tho necessity of pro-viding-work for the unemployed made it desirable to proceed with the work as far as could bo done with relief work funds, and having dpno that the council considered that it was justified in completing the work out o£ tramway reserves and other sources. The question must now go to the ratepayers, and I, for my part, will go on any platform in any part of Wellington and advocate for the success of that loani "I do think that w,e as a council are open to tho suggestion that has been made that the matter has not been dealt with as well as it might have been. I 'think.,that' the whole trouble has.boon largely duo to the fact that we did not lay the arguments for and against beforo the public by debato in open council, when the Press would have been free to report all angles of • the question. The council,, I am sure, would have had much, less criticism-to answer, but it is no use going back over that ground. Tho present position is that £200,000 has been spent on the cast and £60,000.0r £70,000 on the west, and no man can want that great expenditure to lie idle and unproductive. If the matter; goes tq a poll I sincerely hope that it will bo carried."