CAMPBELL'S POINT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15514, 22 January 1914, Page 9

CAMPBELL'S POINT.

HARBOUR BOARD'S SCHEME.

REPLY TO THE MAYOR.

BOARD WILLING TO CONFER.

A further statement in regard to the Harbour Board's proposals respecting Campbell's Point was made yesterday by the chairman of the board (Mr. J. H. Gunson). In reply to a question as to whether the Mayor's suggestion for a further conference met with the approval of the board Mr. Gunson said:"Yes; the board will consider the matter of what steps shall be taken in regard to Campbell's Point. The board is just as desirous as the City Council of preserving and developing publio parks and reserves. The City Council itself owes a great deal to the board in this connection, and there are also several* other local bodies to whom the board has been most-liberal by conveying to them large areas of land for publio reserves. The suggestions that were recently submitted to tho Mayor entirely support this statement, for I have already pointed out that in return for what it was suggested the board should receive a similar area of better property was to be given to the City Council. In what way, then, would the question of public reserves be prejudiced ? " The Mayor," Mr. Gunson went on to say, " would have the public to understand that the board is out for spoliation, but the contrary is the case. The Mayor's remarks regarding ' commercialism' are interesting enough, but his conclusion as to the board seeking to excavate Campbell's Point for reclamation . purposes is entirely erroneous. Any excavation which the board might do would be done for the same reason that a property owner would excavate, for the foundations for a build—not that spoil is wanted, but because it must be removed to make it possible to carry out improvements. The board in the past lias carried out extensive excavations for improvement purposes, and in the present case also it would do the necessary excavations in order to ensure a tine eastern esplanade and a new outlet for city traffic. Much cheaper filling can be obtained by dredging, which at the same time effects con- . siderable harbour improvements. As for the Mayor's remarks regarding the tide deflector I may point out that sandstone filling for such a purpose is quite useless. The . board is now building tho western deflector entirely of blue stone, and it will use similar material for the eastern deflector." The Mayor's suggestion that the new road could be taken round Campbell's Point was also referred to by Mr. Gunson. "That idea,". he said, "is quite impracticable, because of other policy schemes of the board, and, further, the site of the new modern dock, which I hope will be constructed at no distant date, interferes with such a proposal, in addition to which there is the fact that other arrangements between the board and the Railway Department would be disturbed. Of all these matters the Mayor is not cognisant, nor can he be expected to be, for they are all matters of the board's business, and not that of the municipality."

"The board, therefore," Mr. Gunson said, "will not take the road round the point. The road being otherwise made will not destroy Campbell's Point, but will preserve it, and considerably improve the vicinity. As the Herald has quite properly pointed out, the proposed work could be carried out, and Campbell's Point practically reserved for the people. As I have already pointed out, however, any reasonable amendment to the suggestions submitted would have been considered. As for the road not being put in hand for 20 years, which the Mayor affirms, that did not emanate from me. The board does not give unnecessary guarantees as to completing its works. As soon as the way is clear the work will be put in hand. The board, I think, i 8 admittedly, progressive, and its works are always rigorously undertaken. However, I trust that the board and the council will arrive at a satisfactory arrangement at an early date. I am leaving for Wellington to-morrow to attend the conference called by the Prime Minister relative to the conditions of waterside labour, and the board will thus not be able to consider this matter immediately."