HUTT ROAD RAMP

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 148, 19 December 1935, Page 26

HUTT ROAD RAMP

HARBOUR BOARD'S SHARE

GIFT HORSE'S TEETH

';/ "What consideration lias this board I given to the question of the proposed l.ramp across the Hutt" Road?" asked j Mr. R. McKeen, M.P., at the meeting ; of the Harbour Board last night. "Has I.the.board considered what responsiI bility it. has in its construction, arid Hwhat it will, contribute towards it? jSome of thfelocal bodies are now riegofitiating.about their proportion of the -.costs. ;Has the: Harbour Board gone -.'into the': question of what it will pay?" V The chairman (Mri T. R. Barrer) said (that Jhe.'matter had been discussed; in [and outbfivtommittee,,ahd the'opinipn |of the majority of the board ..was that 1-it was a matter into which'the; board !■ should not enter. The board has: ad- \ vised that-it had no legal respphsibilf ity in connection with it.. : ,'v; • Mr. McKeen'thought that the'board •was responsible, along with the other (local bodies, and should pay its pro|"portion of the cost. '■.''' '■'■■■

V; Mr. A. Fletcher said that if Mr. McI.Keen had the time to look into exist;iirig records he would more fully uriderf stand the position. "Another local i.body has let us down," said Mr. Fleti.cher. ■ .'■'.'.'■■ ■ .-.

i • Mr, McKeen suggestedl.that Mr. Fletl cher should see the City Engineer, V when he would find that he was right. ]■■•■■-Mr. Barrer said that the Harbour. 'Board had contributed for years .'to the 'cost of Waterloo Quay,- and if that were" • inquired,into they would see what a jgift horse had cost the board. It was {given to the board in exchange for the j only endowment it had, the Qpverht inent Printing Office. "They gave us [Waterloo Quay, which we have had »to keep up all these years," said Mr. Barrer.'■ "We' have given. the City (Council a very changed artery, and we jihave had .'to-.bear, the cost of upkeep ; [all these years." ; "The Hon. P. Fraser said that corbpera,'tion with the other bodies seemed ad? jvisable. The board was not directly 'concerned with how the traffic came iin to the wharves, but everyone was concerned with the traffic itself, and iit j would ,be a good thing for the ■ .waterfront if the ramp'was put in. ■ "In any case," he said,, "I think that the whole position should be explored i;iir a spirit of friendliness^ With re;gardto Waterloo "Quay, it is no use examining a gift horse in the mouth after, all these . ;Mr; C. M. Turrell said.he saw no (Teason why the board should go out- ; side its interests. "I understand that '("ramps'! or streets have nothing to do| /■with the board," he said.

ji The chairman said he hoped that the vinatter would 'be discussed at a more {appropriate time. • '