Bridge Commission May Sit in January

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 843, 11 December 1929, Page 1

Bridge Commission May Sit in January

HEARING CONCLUDED BIG REVIEW NECESSARY A sitting of the Harbour Bridge Commission in Auckland in January is possible. The commission ended its present hearing of a long array of evidence by interested organisations and public bodies yesterday afternoon. “JT might be found necessary to hold a sitting in January,” remarked the chairman of the commission, Mr. J. Marchbanks, engineer to the Wellington Harbour Board, after the evidence had been brought to a close. “This will be decided after the review of the extensive evidence before us has been taken.” With Mr. Marchbanks on the commission were Mr F. W. Furkert. engineer-in-chief to the Public Works Department, and Captain C. MacDonald, of Dunedin, retired shipmaster. In announcing that counsel did not wish to address the commission. Mr. R. McVeagh said the Bar desired to convey its appreciation of the manner in which the commission had addressed itself to the long proceedings. Counsel realised that the commission must have found the proc.-ediugs somewhat tedious and marked hv re. petition. The principal evidence tendered in the afternoon was on behalf of the • Transport Board. The chairman, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, said the board was prepared to conduct a service to the North Shore over the bridge. There would be no objection to the inclusion of residents of the northern side of the harbour in the terms of tha Transport Act. A grade of 1 In 15 would be satisfactory as the board was now operating on grades of up to 1 In 8.75. Mr. A. E. Ford, manager to the board, gave evidence on grades. Evidence was also heard from a tally clerk on figures taken at vehicular ferry terminals. For the Northern Military Command, Captain E. J. Redmond said the bridge would be an advantage to the military, and Mr. G. C. Munns, M.P. for Roskill, viewed the bridge as an urgent necessity.