NO GRANT FROM COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 23335, 20 October 1937, Page 4

NO GRANT FROM COUNCIL

PROPOSED OVERHEAD BRIDGE SPEY STREET RAILWAY CROSSING I i A decision to refuse to contribute » £12,500 towards the cost of the erection of an overhead bridge at the Spey street railway crossing was reached at the meeting of the City Council last night when the Government’s offer to contribute half the cost —£12,500 —of the proposed bridge was considered. Advice of the Government’s offer was received in a letter from the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). When in Invercargill in March the Minister was approached by representatives of the Invercargill Master Carriers’ Association who said there was a danger to traffic at the level crossing in Spey street and asked that consideration be given to the erection of an overhead bridge. “These representations have been carefully considered and it is found that the erection of an overhead bridge as desired would cost £25,000,” said the Minister in his letter. “It is appreciated that the elimination of this particular crossing would be an advantage to all concerned and in the circumstances the Railways Department is prepared to contribute £12,500 towards the cost of the work, provided the balance of the money is found by the local body. I shall be glad, therefore, if you will arrange for the matter to be placed before the council for its consideration. In the event of the council deciding to accept the offer, arrangements will be made to proceed with the matter on receipt of the necessary information from you.” COST TO RATEPAYERS

When the Mayor (Mr John Miller) introduced the letter, Cr G. E. T. Dorman said he still contended that the ratepayers of the city should not be expected to pay half the cost of the overhead bridge at Spey street. The Railways Department was responsible for putting the goods sheds on the wrong side of the railway line. The ratepayers should not be asked to pay for the lack of foresight of the railways, especially when the Public Works Department or the State was erecting other overhead bridges in the counties. The Mayor: Are you prepared to move in that direction? Cr Dorman: Yes. I move that the letter be received and that it be pointed out that the council does not see its way clear to commit the ratepayers to an expenditure of £12,500 on the proposed overhead bridge at the Spey street crossing. , t The motion was seconded by Cr J H. Tattersfield. Cr J. R. Hanan: I’d like the council to add that other crossings round the city are more dangerous. That would give an unanswerable reason why we should not contribute to the cost of the Spey street crossing. Cr J. H. Tattersfield asked why, if the Public Works Department was eliminating dangerous crossings in the country, it should not do so in the town. This question, he said, should be nut to the Minister. - . There was no further discussion and the motion was carried.