THE LYTTELTON TUNNEL.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14971, 19 May 1914, Page 10

THE LYTTELTON TUNNEL.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE TRESS." Sir, —Tho agitation for the electrification of the tunnel has now an age of over fourteen years. Had the gentle-' men who formed the recent deputation to the Minister of Railways not found the intervening years full of cares and business worries, and had they been at liberty to identify themselves with what they now know to be "a great public question,'" it is possible that an improved tunnel traffic would have been a sufficient time in working order to demonstrate its value as a comfort-gi. er to passengers, a means of opening up new suburbs, and an acknowledged asset to tho Dominion. I had not tne honour of being one of the deputation, which was formed by the commercial and municipal representatives of the city, and very naturally 60; but they appear to have leit the Minister with one item of information as the result of their years of labour. No doubt had previously occurred to their minds as to the, official determination to press on the desired electrification at the earliest convenient moment. Now they are at liberty' to re-cast their estimates of value, and'may expend another fourteen years in gathering statistics, obtaining conflicting reports, and drawing up a statement of tne opinion of Canterbury uoon the rival merits of duplication and electrification. —Yours, etc., J. H. NEWLYN. Christchurch. May 16th, 1914.