BOAT HARBOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23428, 18 August 1939, Page 12

BOAT HARBOUR

OKAHII BAY PLAN further protest made RESIDENTS OF ORAKEI LETTER TO THE MINISTER

Before the Auckland Harbour Board begins construction of the Okaliu Bay boat harbour, the Orakei Residents' Association, the Orakei Boat Harbour Committee and the. Orakei branch of the Labour Party are making joint representations to the Minister of Marine, the Hon. P. Fraser, to have the whole matter reopened for further consideration. A letter to this efleot and • a-request that he should Eive the bodies concerned a further opportunity of making representations to ■•him in Auckland is being sent to the 'Minister. Mr. R. G. Jones, chairman of the Orakei Boat Harbour Committee, said >yesterday 'that, although perhaps the Minister's mind had been made up, he would like to acquaint the public of Auckland with the facts of the case before the board started work on the scheme. Mr. Jones said it was particularly noteworthy that, while it had drawn up plans for the expenditure of over £29,000 on buildings for a boat harbour scheme in St. Marys Ba.\, the board had told the public and the Minister that the Okaliu Bay site had been selected on the score of expense, although alternative sites were actually available. "The people must realise that the natural beauties of the waterfront road are unsurpassed in the world, and, although we .have the interests of the yachtsmen - afc heart, and although I have been associated with the sea wll my life, I consider that this scheme is a piece of vandalism," said Mr. Jones. "The waterfront road on a Sun; day is acknowledged to be the busiest road in Auckland for vehicular traffic. Already there are 2000 people residing in the immediate vicinity of Okahu Bay, and within a year the number of adults, at the present rate of building, will have increased to at least 4000. "For these and other reasons," he said, "we are very anxious that the Minister of -Marine should visit Auckland and view the situation in more favourable circumstances than those which attended his last visit. It is inconceivable why, when protests had unanimously • been placed before him by the Federation of Labour, the Labour Representation Committee, the National Council of Women, and other bodies, the Minister should have given his consent to' this wonderful beach being taken away from the children and that the great majority of- Auckland'citizens should be deprived of it in favour of a few. This is particularly s.o when other suitable sites were available and were even definitely recommended by certain members of the yachting community."