THE HARBOUR BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20132, 18 December 1928, Page 14

THE HARBOUR BRIDGE.

Sir, —Beyond ventilating his laudable en-* thusiasm toward the harbour bridge project your correspondent "G.E.L.'s" remarks do not,, 1 think, throw much material light on the aspects of the question I raised. In view of the fact that the Harbour Board, ■as a body, has adopted the expressed viewi of its officials, little importance may be attached to his statement that certain" members of the board do not agree with those views. It is interesting to have his statement to the effect that there are competent men in Auckland with detailed knowledge of the harbour bed. If this be so, why spend £SOO of Government money to obtain the information which "G.E.L." infers is already in the possession of the Harbour Bridge Association ? His remarks as to cost cover old ground; they do not alter my contention, and are of no moment for present, purposes. Wo are all entitled to our ppinions, but. in view of the many conflicting opinions in this case (of which those of "G.E.L" and mine are an example), the only logical course to pursue is to have a- detailed and authoritative investigation of tho whole question to decide which of thoso opinions (if any) is .correct. As I am pro-bridge I should be quite pieased to have my base scepticism proved by such inquiry to be unfounded, and the Harbour Bridge Association's modest estimate proved correct. Tho point I desire to make is that, before tne association can expect the great body of public opinion to share its enthusiasm for a harbour bridge to the extent that such a schema warrants for successful issue, its activities would, in my opinion, be more profitably employed in promoting such inquiry, rather than in reiterating a series of statements which cover old ground and subjects which will doulUess continue to be controversial until definitely adjudicated upon by such inquiry. Pro-Bkidge.