AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1926, Page 13

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE

DEVISING WAYS AND MEANS. ART UNION SUGGESTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. How it was intended to raise capital for the construction of the long discussed bridge over the Waitcmata harbour was introduced at a meeting of the committee last evening by Mr. J. B. Tonar, who stated that a large amount was needed for propaganda. He said the bridge would span only a gap in the continuous route of main highways from the North Cape to Wellington. Therefore assistance should be forthcoming from the Main Highways Board. The chairman, Mr. E. G. Skeates, said that while he was not a racing nor a gambling man, he considered a big art union should be promoted. The amount paid for tickets could be regarded as a donation towards the bridge. He suggested that the objective should be £1,000,000, and four million tickets at 5i each should be issued. Of this total £750,000 should be allocated for the bridge and £50.000 for expenses. The remaining £200,000 should be distributed in £lOO prizes. Mr. Ogilvie Paterson said he strongly opposed gambling, and if this course were resorted to he would retire from the committee. Mr. F. E. Powell said he would not call himself a gambler, but if it would mean getting the bridge he was quite ready to take £1 worth of tickets. Mr. A. M. Wilson said the gambling spirit was doing more than anything else in New Zealand, except perhaps drink, in deteriorating the country's manhood and womanhood. He strongly objected to the money being raised in » the manner proposed. The chairman said he quite agreed that art union gambling had beep overdone, hut this bridge proposal he regarded as in quite .’. different category. He anticipated that the four million tickets would be taken up in New Zealand, and if not Australia would snap them up. It would be the biggest thing that ever hit New Zealand. Further consideration of tire matter was postponed for a month.