“THE BETTER ’OLE”

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11685, 24 November 1923, Page 5

“THE BETTER ’OLE”

OUESTION OF SITE “FULLY CONSIDERED BY CITY COUNCILLORS.” REPLY TO MR BATT. A statement was made by Mr E. A. Batt, president of the Hataitai Municipal Electors’ Association, while speaking at the meeting of the Civic League, that the decision to drive the new tunnel through Mount Victoria had been reached probably as tlie result of »the deliberations of but two men, not even three, as had been stated by Councillor H. D. Bennett, those two men being the acting-city engineer and the chairman of the works committee, Councillor T. Forsyth. The eastern suburbs, continued Mr Batt, would have been more satisfied had they been assured that the tunnel question had been properly and fully considered by the full council, or by the works committee, but, as far as ho could gather, that had not been done. In reply to this, it was stated ta a “Times” reporter that the whole question of the tunnel route had been most exhaustively discussed by the works committee before any recommendation had been brought down to the full City Council at a meeting held specially for the purpose of considering the tunnel question. Representatives of the Hataitai Association had attended a meeting of the works committee, when there were also present the acting-engineer and the Mayor, and the whole matter was talked over, with plans and sketches, and apparently those representatives were satisfied. When the works committee’s recommendation, based upon the plan advanced as moat suitable by Mr Paterson, was placed before the council there was no long discussion, for the reason that councillors appeared unanimously agreed that the Ellice street route was the best of those proposed. Had any councillor been unable to understand any point, or had he disagreed with the plan, then he had the opportunity of obtaining information or entering his protest, hut none did so. It was incorrect to say that the , tunnel question had not been fully and carefully considered, for meeting after meeting had been held upon the subject.