Experts To Report On City Transport

Northern Advocate, 26 September 1949, Page 4

Experts To Report On City Transport

WELLINGTON, Mon., (Sp.).— Called to New Zealand to investigate the present and future transport needs of Auckland, two authorities on transport—Sir William Halcrow and Mr J. T. Thomas—arrived on the Rangitoto last night. Sir William is consulting engineer to the London Passenger transport Board and Mr Thomas was general manager of the same board for f:R years and superintendent of its predecessor, the London General Omnibus Company. At least a month will be spent in investigations in Auckland and it is expected that an interim report will be submitted to the Government before the two experts leave on the Dominion Monarch on November 12.

Sir William said he was a specialist in tube railways, and tunnels. As the principal consulting engineer on harbours for the War Office he was primarily responsible for designing the now famous Mulberry breakwater, which played an important role in the Anglo-American invasion of Normandy in the closing stages of the war in Europe.

He has also been responsible for designing all the major hydro-electric works in Scotland, including the famous 15 miles long Ben Nevis tunnel scheme.

Since December, Sir William has made two visits to South Africa, where he has been investigating a hydro-electrie scheme on the Zambesi River to supply Rhodesia with 750,000 kilowatts of power.

The project dam across the river will be 300 ft high. He returned to England on November 19 and left for New Zealand six days later.