WATERFRONT RAILWAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18710, 16 May 1924, Page 11

WATERFRONT RAILWAY

CITY COUNCIL AND BOARD.

PRIVATE TRAMWAY SCHEME.

AGREEMENT CONFIRMED.

WIDENING OF QUAY STREET.

The proposed Quay Street railway as the subject of a short discussion by the City Council last evening.

The matter was raised on the presentation of a plan showing the most convenient position for the tramway tracks to be laid in Quay Street between Queen Street and Albert Street.

In this connection a letter was received from the Auckland Harbour Board in which it was stated that the board was willing to renew the offer made in the agreement entered into last year between the council and the board regarding the widening of Quay Street and the linking up of Prince's Wharf with the railway sidings on Quay Street. This offer was that the board would sell to the council the fee simple of the site of Gladstone Buildings and the adjoining section for £9049, and give the land in front of its office for the purpose of widening Quay Street, provided the council would give the .board, the right to lay sidings on Quay Street and operate them as a private tramway. It was stated that the board would require a bill this session providing for other matters, and if the council approved this agreement could be included in it.

In a report forwarded from the Committee of the Whole Council it was recommended that the proposals of last year be confirmed, and that in consideration' of same the council issue a tramway license, in terms of the Municipal Corporations Act, for a period of five years, and that it be a condition of the license that the Auckland Harbour Board will control the traffic and operate under such tramway license in such a manner as will safeguard the safety and convenience of the public. The adoption of the recommendation was moved by the Mayor. Mr. A. J. Entrican said he thought one. of the reasons why tho council was granting the right was that it could make an arrangement with the board for the regulation of traffic. The recommendation did not go far enough, and he suggested that the words, "to the satisfaction of the council or to the satisfaction of the city engineer," be added. The Mayor said they must throw the onus on the board for the safety of the public. Mr. Entrican added that the council had a duty to protect the people and he thought there should be some arrangement for the approval of the council. The amendment, which was seconded by Mr. C. H. Furness, was carried. Mr. J; B. Paterson objected to the council granting a license for five years. He thought the railway would come along in time, but felt that the council was opening the back door. Mr. T. Bloodworth made it clear that he was in agreement with the recommendation as far as the council was concerned, but he did not approve the method being used in the effort to get the railway. It seemed to him like a body conspiring to defeat the wishes of the people's representatives. He did not think for a moment that the board would get the desired authorisation, nor did he think the people of Auckland would agree to the railway being laid down under these conditions. He felt that if the body responsible for this had desired to defeat its own measure it could not have taken better steps to do so. It would have been far better to have gone to Parliament again and risked defeat. The authorisation of the Quay Street loop was desired by Mr. J. A. C. Allum, who, however, withdrew a motion to that' effect when it was explained that nothing could be done until the widen ing of the street had been determined. The recommendation as amended was adopted.