MORNINGSIDE TUNNEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 12

MORNINGSIDE TUNNEL.

ABANDONMENT OF SCHEME.

DISSATISFACTION EXPRESSED.

INVESTIGATION BY COMMITTEE. Considerable) dissatisfaction with the Government's decision to abandon tho Morningsido railway deviation scheme was expressed yesterday at u mooting of representatives of local bodicß and ratepayers' associations of northern districts, convened by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at the request of the Northern Suburban Railways and Highways League. There were representatives from as far north as Swanson.

Mr. M. Stewart, who presided, said that the Chamber of Commerce hud un opon mind in tho matter and was chiefly concerned with tho economic aspect of tho scheme. If it could be carried out nt a reasonable cost it might easily bo a most productive work, but there appeared to be some uncertainty over the matter of cost.

There was considerable comment on the estimated cost of tho scheme, especially with regard to tho fact that the estimuto obtained by tho present Government was almost double that obtained by Mr. Coates when he was Prime Minister. Tho view was expressed that the projected northern deviation was part of a general scheme dealing with rail traffic in the vicinity of Auckland. It was stated that many people in tho outlying districts to the north of the city had approved the building of tho new Auckland railway station only becauso they expected another auxiliary station noar tho Town Hall as a terminal to tho Morningside tunnel. llegret was expressod at tho absence of representatives from southern districts, as the report supporting tho Morningsido deviation, published in an appendix to tho 1926 Railway Statement, had recommended the electrification of lines from Papakura to Swanson. After considerable discussion it was decided to form .a committee to examine tho case against the abandonment of tho deviation and to investigate possiblo alternative schemes. A sub-committee, consisting of Mr. H. A. Robertson, Mr. R. A. Spinley, Mr. C. F. Gardner, Mr. M. J. Bennett and Mr. W. E. Martin, with Mr. Stewart as convener and Dr. E. P. Nealo. as secretary, was appointed to attend to preliminary matters.