AUCKLAND HARBOUR

Southland Times, Issue 22194, 9 December 1933, Page 8

AUCKLAND HARBOUR

ERECTION OF BRIDGE. GRANT FROM UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, December 8. “The Treasury and Unemployment Board were satisfied that the construction of the Auckland Harbour bridge should be treated as a truly national work and one which reasonably could be subsidized out of the unemployment funds,” said Mr A. Harris, M.P., at the annual meeting of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Company. He was not at liberty to say how great the subsidy would be, but the board had to treat the work in a manner similar to a subsidized building scheme. “The board, with the consent of the Minister of Finance, has agreed to provide a straight-out subsidy on the cost of labour on the bridge,” said Mr Harris. “In round figures, between £lOO,OOO and £200,000 was made available in New Zealand toward financing the bridge and of that sum about two thirds is a straight-out cash gift or subsidy from the Unemployment Board toward labour costs. It is estimated the work will employ 400 men for not less than three years. During that time the subsidy will be handed over.” He had with him a cablegram sent to the Prime Minister on November 24 by the New Zealand High Commissioner in London. It was a confidential document but he could read the first sentence. It was “Reputable underwriters here have definitely undertaken to provide finance for construction of harbour bridge.” The cablegram, said Mr Harris, went on to detail certain conditions. The report and balance-sheet were adopted and a vote of confidence in the directors was carried.