NOT JUSTIFIED

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 52, 2 March 1934, Page 9

NOT JUSTIFIED

CHRISTCHURCH SCHEMES

(By1 Telegraph— Press Association.) CHEISTCHURCH, March 1. The access to the sea investigation committee, which was set up to investigate and report upon the rival schemes of a tunnel road' through the hill to Lyttelton and a new port in the Summer estuary, sponsored by the Port Christchureh League, has completed its report. The committee, -was set up as the outcome of a conferonco of representatives of local bodies and other public organisations called by the Mayor of Christchureh in August, 1933. The committee consisted of Professor Cull, of the Canterbury College School of Engineering; Mr.-W. H. Harris, engineer to the Waimakariri River Trust; Mr. J. W. Eeanland, Christchurch City Council, representing the local bodies; Mr.-W. Maehin, Mr. H. S. E.- Turner, and Mr. J. G-. Collins, representing the business interests; and Mr. W. S. Newburgh, accountant. The "committee was specially asked to consider whether either of the two enterprises -would be justified as an outlet for unemployed labour. The committee states that it is unable to recommend either scheme, and does not find either scheme .-justified, on any ground. It holds that the growth of the business of the port is insufficient to warrant the expenditure, and even assuming the work could bo done by relief labour, the saving in cost would not be great, as the labour cost in relation to the total cost would bo smaller than inexpert bpinion might suppose.