MINISTER TO SEEK CABINET AID FOR NEW TOWN BRIDGE

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 July 1950, Page 2

MINISTER TO SEEK CABINET AID FOR NEW TOWN BRIDGE

When in possession of all information regarding the proposed new Town Bridge he would place the position before Cabinet with a view to affording the council some help because of the importance of the bridge to a wide and important district, stated the Minister of Works ('Mr. Goosman) in a letter to the Wanganui City Council. The Minister was referring to a deputation from the council which waited on him when he visited Wanganui on May 19 and sought Government assistance toward the erection of the new bridge. The Commissioner ot Works had the matter under consideration, bu. progress could not be made till th" council had supplied details of the bridge proposed and the estimated cost. “The suggestion I made to the deputation—the setting up of a judicial commission to apportion costs — would be necessary only if your council had sound reasons to believe that other local bodies should be joined in the financial responsibility,” the Minister added. "It would not be set up to apportion costs as between the city and Government." Preliminary investigations regarding the new bridge have been made by a consulting engineer, Mr. W. G. Morrison (Wellington) and he has been authorised by the council to approach the various Government departments concerned for their approval of the general scheme. He will then proceed with a detailed design and the preparation of working drawings for a plate girder bridge. The council has also decided, acting on a recommen(Jation of the works Committee, that th e city engineer Mr. L. F. Row) be instructed to collect and collate all available information in support of the council’s contention that a large measure Of financial support should be forthcoming from the Government.