DEFACING MT. ALBERT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16298, 3 August 1916, Page 9

DEFACING MT. ALBERT.

PETITION IN PROTEST.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE

NO RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE

[BY TELEGBAPn —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The report of the Railways Committee on the petition of 1600 residents of Auckland asking that! the taking of scoria from Mount Albert be discontinued, was presented to the House of Representatives to-day. The Committee reported that as the matter was one of policy it had no recommendation to make.

Mr. H. G. Ell (Christchurcb South) said the matter was not so much one of policy as of work, and he thought that the people who had signed the petition had just cause for complaint. He thought the Railway Department should go further afield for ballast and cease despoiling'what was undoubtedly a beauty spot.

Mr. J. S. Dickson (Parnell) said the scoria pit at Mount Albert bad been in existence about 30 years. Most of the petitioners were newcomers to the district. The Railway Department, which possessed the freehold of the land affected, had presented the land that it had levelled to residents of the district. Local bodies were also taking scoria from the same •place. The matter was certainly one of policy, and one for the Railway Department to determine.

Mr. C. H. Poole (Auckland West) said many representations had been made to the Government in regard to this matter. Some allowance was made previously for the necessities of the Department when the first portion of the North Auckland Main Trunk railway was under construction. Now, however, the line was constructed to a point where good metal was available, and there was no longer anv reason for continuing to take scoria from Mount Albert.

Hon. W. H. Hemes: Will von let me know where the other supply" of ballast- is?

Mr. Poole: Yes. The member for Marsden has already pointed out that there is a good supply of ballast at Pnkekarara.

Mr. A. E. Glover (Auckland 'Central) expressed the hope that the matter would be reconsidered next session, and that in the meantime no further scoria would be taken from Mount Albert. The report, was adopted.