WATERFRONT RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18135, 6 July 1922, Page 5

WATERFRONT RAILWAY.

REVIEW OF THE POSITION.

HARBOUR BOARD'S POLICY.

STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN.

The chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, made a further statement yesterday regarding the proposed railway along the waterfront to the Prince's Wharf. He said that rails westward were not onJy provided for by resolution of the board in 1906, but were actually laid at Ftttfman's Bay 14 years ago. The Auckland dock and several leases for many years blocked the making of the connection at the city end. The plans of the rails to and on the Prince's Wharf were approved by the board and the Government in 1913. To a port engineer the suggestion of a modern wharf without railage accommodation would be an anachronism. In regard to tho attitude of tho residents of the North Shore suburbs, Mr. Mackenzie said the straightening of Quay | Street would ensure that for at least 20 years tho ferry traffic would be left undisturbed, as the extra space between Queen's and Prince's Wharf would be reserved for their purpose. The traffic would bo opened out and considerable use would be made of Little Queen Street. The width &f the roadway at the FelTy Buildings jras tho same as at the other side of Quay Street, viz... 100 ft the only difference being in the width of the footpaths. The Gladstone Buildings belonged to the board, and when the time came the board would be progressive enough to givo the city a beautiiul entrance. The Alleged Danger of Trains. A great deal, said Mr. Mackenzie, had been heard about the danger of trains— which would ran at a speed of about four miles an hour I —but five times as many people as used the ferries crossed Queen Street daily, with trams running at least every minute, at a speed of about 15 miles an hour. As to the proposal to build other wharves to the eastward of Queen Street, these would not be completed in less than 20 years. The export wharf alone would cost 1§ millions, and this money* had yet to be provided. There was no possibility of Quay Street being used for assembling trucks, as yards would be constructed for assembling trucks when the railway was connected with the Westera Wharf. He also referred to the increased dimensions of the butter export industry, and the fact that as much as 700 tons of Nauru phosphates had been delivered by railway trucks daily, as illnstrating the need for ur>:to-date means of communication and means of handling, . Befereßce to Other Porta '■>:V Mr. Mackenzie referred to the policy of other harbour, controlling authorities m the world All these, he said, advertised their connection with railway systems, as one of their great inducements to trade. In conclusion, he remarked:—" In a nutshell, the position is: Should the efficiency and utility of our port be held np and the prosperity of Auckland kept back because the residents across the water think they/ may be inconvenienced by a slow-moving, railway train ? The members of the board have no axe to grind, and I invite every one to take the same view as we do. Wa have a town which "ts going to be a large city in the near future; Be proud of Auckland's advancement and take the broad view of the public's welfare before self-interest."