THE HARBOUR BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21349, 25 November 1932, Page 14

THE HARBOUR BRIDGE

LOCAL BODIES WITHDRAW

DECISION OF CITY COUNCIL

COMMENT' BY THE MAYOR

Following similar action by the .Auckland Harbour Hoard and the TS'ortlieote Thorough Council, the Auckland Cily (,'ouu cil last evening accepted tlie resignation of its represent at ive on the directorate of the Auckland Harbour Bridgo Com pnny. Beyond entering a protest against a recent decision of the company's directorate. the council took no further action, the Mayor, Mr. (!. W. Hutchison, remarking that there was no possibility of the bridgo charter being acted upon so long as it was bold bv the present company.

The council's representative, Mr. 'J'. Bloodworth, stated that after his appointment a committee was set up by the directors to deal with any urgent matters, not affecting policy, between meetings. He was made a member of the committee. However, lie found that correspondence between meetings was being dealt with direct from the office without first being referred to tho committee, and statements were made in sudh correspondence which could not be supported and which it was necessary later to correct by letter stating the true position. Subsequently, tho six elected directors, in faco of protests from the three local body representatives, set up an nxecutive consisting of themselves alone. '1 he resolution purported to empower this executive to exercise any of the functions of the whole board, except that it might not complete negotiations for raising finance or sign a contract for building tho bridgo.

Mr. Bloodworth remarked that tho action taken was contrary to the empowering Act of 1931, under which tho local body representatives held their scats. Ho folt ho had 110 option but to tender his resignation to the council. Ho did so with regret, as he had always hoped that something tangiblo would come of tho harbour bridgo project. On the Mayor's motion the resignation was accepted. Tho Mayor then moved that a letter be sent to tho directors of the Harbour Bridge Company protesting against the action which had led to the resignation of the council's representative and, 110 understood, those of the two other local bodies concerned.

"I have looked up the empowering Act and it is clear that the, directors' action is quite unconstitutional," said Mr. Hutchison. "It could bo upset if tho council desired to tako action in that direction. However, I have come to the conclusion that while tho project is in the hands of the present company there is no possibility whatever of tho charter being brought into use. For that reason it is not worth the council's while to take any further action." Tho Mayor's motion was carried.