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REPORT To His Excellency Sir Bernard Cyril Freyberg, upon whom has been conferred the Decoration of the Victoria Cross, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Doctor of Laws, Lieutenant-General in His Majesty's Army, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand. May it please Your Excellency,— His Majesty's Commission, dated the 22nd day of March, 1946, and issued under the hand of Your Excellency's predecessor and the seal of His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand, directed us to inquire into, examine, and report upon the trans-harbour facilities in the Auckland metropolitan area and the approaches thereto, and to report on proposals for the provision of further facilities in the public interest. The specific matters into which we were directed to inquire are set out in detail in the order of reference embodied in His Majesty's Commission. The Commission decided that the most satisfactory procedure to adopt in making its inquiry was to summon a number of persons, including officers of the Government and of local and public bodies, to give evidence in respect of matters in which, by reason of their special knowledge and experience, they were particularly qualified to assist it; and to issue a general invitation to other persons who desired to make representations to the Commission to submit written statements of their views on any of the subjects contained in the order of reference. If, after considering a written statement, the Commission thought it desirable to hear the writer in person, or if the writer desired to be heard in person, the Commission invited him to attend and give oral evidence to supplement his written statement. In other cases, where some amplification appeared to be necessary, a further written statement was asked for. Public sittings for taking evidence and hearing submissions were held at Auckland from the 15th May, 1946, to the 12th June, 1946. During that period the Commission sat on 17 days and examined 67 witnesses. It received 85 exhibits and also obtained voluminous data from Government Departments and other sources. The transcript of the proceedings filled 1,271 typewritten foolscap pages. The members of the Commission visited those parts of the Auckland metropolitan area in respect of which improved road and rail facilities are planned, and made themselves familiar with the locations of the different works contemplated in the recently announced Auckland Metropolitan Development Plan. They also made detailed inspections of the existing ferry services between the City of Auckland and the North Shore suburbs, and investigated the roading systems of the North Shore and the east coast bays and the means of access to the ferry terminals. Their investigations included an examination of the possible sites for the erection of a bridge across the harbour and for the construction of a tunnel under the harbour, and, in each case, an examination of the location of the necessary connecting roads and causeways. The Commission desires to acknowledge the. assistance it received from the bodies and interests represented before it. In the great majority of cases it was evident that much care and thought had been devoted to the preparation of material for submission to the Commission. The Commission wishes also to place on record its appreciation of the able and painstaking work of Mr. B. C. Magill, who was appointed to act as Secretary to the Commission. Mr. Magill was responsible for a vast amount of detailedwork, which was performed to the entire satisfaction of the Commission. The detailed report and recommendations of the Commission follow.

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