BRIDGE ASSOCIATION SEEKS BED-ROCK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 531, 7 December 1928, Page 13

BRIDGE ASSOCIATION SEEKS BED-ROCK

“FIX THE SITE” MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION The general committee of the Harbour Bridge Association, with an attendance of over 20, spent about two hours last evening in endeavouring to assure itself exactly where the association stood. The fact that the association funds were not flourishing started the discussion, and the committee went on to consider the fact that Auckland City was not yet sufficiently interested in tho bridge proposal which is still too closely one in which the North Shore boroughs are interested. Finally the committee realised that in anting more or less in opposition to the Harbour Board, and in spite of the board, it was not getting as well advanced with tne movement as it might. , The committee could see better times ahead in the matter of finance, and did not waste time on it. In the direction of interesting the city it was decided to start with a personal canvass of prominent citizens and those most likely to be affected in the way of transport and property, and to hold a public, meeting in the Chamber of Commerce next Thursday, to which special invitations will be sent to city councillors, members of the Automobile Executive and others. In an endeavour to reach a more amicable connection with the Harbour Board the committee decided to ask the board to meet the association at a conference to discuss the site of the proposed bridge. At a previous meeting of the committee it had been decided to call for a conference at which members of Parliament, city councillors, members of the Harbour Board, A.A.A. and Town-Planning Association, would, be represented. Also is was decided to insist that the £SOO grant by the Government, for survey and borings, be mad© on the route proposed by the association. Both these decisions will, in the meantime, be deferred. Mr. R. PI. Greville said the recent election campaign had benefited the association in tw r o ways by the introduction of the harbour bridge question. It •had secured publicity for the scheme, and had ensured that whoever was returned for Waitemata was pledged to support the bridge scheme. The secretary, Captain C. G. Asludowne, said the movement was not getting the city support it should. Committee meetings and that sort of thing were all right, but the public did not realise the amount of work tli4»y had done, or the amount that was yet to be done. Too many people thought they were fostering a theory, or something that might happen in the years to come. THE ASSOCIATION’S JOB “Unless we get Greater Auckland to take this up wo will not mend our finances or get anywhere with the scheme,” remarked Mr. A. W. Marks. “There is no rise in blaming the people of Auckland,” remarked Mr. A. E. Blampied. “Our job is to go out and get them interested, tell them where we have got to, and where we are in difficulties." That the question of site was the paramount one at the moment was the opinion of Mr. R. F. Moore. The movement could not progress any further than at present until this question was settled. He did not think that a large conference was going to be of the slightest value until the site was more or less definite. E very on o in Auckland was in the dark on the whole position until this most important point was settled. He therefore suggested the conference with the Haj’bour Board, and was supported by Mr. P. G. Dawson, who said that the board, was reported to be against the route the association proposed, and the best thing they could do was to meet the board and find out what it proposed. “This question of site is one on which we must get down to bedrock.” he remarked. “Everything is to be gained by meeting the board in a friendly conference," remarked Mr. ‘A. E. Blampied, who also was pleased that there was some suggestion that this time the board might favourably receive a request to meet the association, a request it refused in the past. “We were turned down because we did not do any proper lobbj-ing,” said Mr. O. Moiler. The decisions were made as stated.