AN UNDERGROUND STATION IS URGED FOR THE SQUARE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18786, 15 June 1929, Page 4

AN UNDERGROUND STATION IS URGED FOR THE SQUARE.

BETTER THAN GIMCRACK BUILDINGS SUGGESTED, SAYS MR F. JOHNSTON.

Discussing the proposals of the Cathedral Square conference, Mr F. W. Johnston said that he did not consider that the conference had sufficiently explored the question of having an underground station for tramway passengers.

If the city could have underground conveniences he did not see why that idea could not be extended sufficiently to apply to a tramway underground station.

lie thought that the tramways must discharge their passengers at some central point in the city. That was in fairness both to the passengers and to the city, &nd therefore he was inclined to believe that an underground station in Cathedral Square would be the solution of the problem. The money would have to be borrowed for such a work, but even if it was expensive they should remember that they were looking to the future, and that the future, in fairness, should bear part of the burden. The best expert advice should be secured as to whether it would be possible to con struct such a station as he had out lined. If it could be done, it would be far better than building the gim crack erections such as were proposed If this scheme were found to be impossible the shelters should be put at the back of the Cathedral instead of in front of it.