HARBOUR BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20323, 2 August 1929, Page 14

HARBOUR BRIDGE.

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION STATE GRANT DOUBLED. TECHNICAL ADVICE AVAILABLE. [j! Y TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Government grant for the preliminary investigation regarding tho construction of a bridge across the Auckland Harbour has been increased from £SOO to £IOOO. Tho matter was referred to by the Minister of Finance, Sir Joseph Ward, in his Financial Statement, delivered in tho House of Representatives this evening. "Tho Government is being urged to undertake tho construction of n bridge across tho Auckland Harbour as a national work," ho said. "Apart from tho de batablo question of it being a national work tho undertaking is a vory largo ono and calls for serious consideration. Tho Government, howevor, will provide £IOOO toward the work of exploration and, if required, tho advice of the technical officers of tho State will also bo availahlo in this connection."

TOWN-PLANNING ASPECT. " NO REST FOR GOVERNMENT." ■ The Auckland Harbour Bridge Committee met last evening, tho president, Mr. It. 11. Grcvillo, presiding. At the invitation ol tins president, Mr. W. 11. Glimmer, delegate of tho Townplanning Association, gavo a brief address. Ho said that to the average person tho bridge idea must make a great ap peal, but to tho town-planner it made a greater appeal! Their bounden duty, as citizens of Auckland, was to further tho bridge project if investigations proved it to be an economic and sound undertaking. From a town-planning point of view tho scheme was of vital concern. It would form ono of tho main arteries from the centre of the city, reaching right up to the top ot tti«: island Tho Town-planning Association was not only interested in the bridge as a means of getting traffic safely and quickly across the harboui, but also to ensure that as tar as circumstances would permit its architecture should mako a fitting setting for tho Waitemata. He came to the com mittoe with a great deal of pleasure, because he felt that it was doing a great deal for the city. They were not all able to give such a clarion call as Sir James Gmisoii had that day. but they could all support it. (Applause.) Mr S. Donaldson, Mayor of Newmarket, and Mr. W II Nagle, representing the Mount Eden Borough Council, who were attending a meeting of tho committee for the first time, also spoke.

It was resolved to invite Sit James Gunson to address the committee in tho light of his recent travels, and to endeavour to have the address broadcast.

Tho president said that several communications had passed urging tho setting up of a tribunal to decide upon tho site and to expedite borings to ascertain the nature of tho bed of the harbour for the foundations of tho bridge. They had given the Government no rest during tho past few weeks, and everything possible was being done to keep it up to its promises. However, it was realised that with Parliament in session and urgent matters engaging attention as tho result of tho earthquake, tho Government had its hands full at tho moment. A tally of the winter tin flic across the harbour is to be taken next week.