TUNNEL LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16148, 28 February 1918, Page 6

TUNNEL LEAGUE.

THE PROPAGANDA COMMITTEE.

The Propaganda Committee of the Arthur's Pass Tunnel League met last night. Present: The Mayor (presiding), Messrs H. Marriner, Geo. Harper, L_ M. Ts'tt, M P., P. Hercus, R. 0. Badger, M. L. Reading. W. J. Jenkin, R. Browning, McGregor "Wright, J. Willis, A. C. Maxwell, C. H. Hewlett, and T. W. Reese.

Tne Mayor, referring to the dissent expressed at Tuesday's joint meeting of tho Deputations and Finance Committees when ho remarked that they should proceed on the assumption that the repiy from tho Minister would be adverse, sa:d that that was what they should prenaro for. They should not lie down till tho Deputations Co mini t;eo j_ r ot ail its machinery in order—that 'night involve h\t> cr six weeks—and ho was very much against lving down for that period. They ought to got their machinery in perfect working order as ouicklv as possible. Mr L. M. Isitt., M.P., was olectcd chairman of the committee, and took, tho chair; and Mr Goo. Harper and tho chairman were .appointed tho committee's representatives on tho executive.

Mr W. H. Trigs s > editor of "Tho Press," -wrote expressing his appreciation of having been selected as a member of tho committee, but asking that his namo should be withdrawn, as ho had made it a rule not to be conncctod with local or general politics. Ho fully sympathised with tho objects of tho League, but thought ho would ho ablo to give moro effective support from out. 6fde than from inside. Tho lottcr was received

Mr 11. 0. Badger wrote suggesting that his services would ho more valuable ou tho Pro|)agunda Committer than on tho Statistical Committee. Mr Badger was elected to tho committee. The chairman, in urging that tho committee should settle down to work, remarked that there was not the slightest- doubt in his mind that tho Minister would not yield at the first assault, in which caso, if they delayed, timo would be lost.

Messrs Harper, Dobson, and Hercus wero appointed a sub-committee to arrange for the issue of a diagram giving details in connexion with tho tunnel. It was also decided, on tho motion of tho Mayor, seconded by Mr Howlctt. that a brief pamphlet bo. printed giving details respecting the advantages that will result from tho completion of the tunnel. Messrs Heading, Goss, Badger, and Jenkin were appointed to draw up tho pamphlet. It was decided that all local bodies in Canterbury bo invited to pass resolutions urging the completion of the tunnel, and forward them to tho Government. Tho sub-committees were instructed to report to tho executive, and to include in their Teport estimates of cost of printing. ATTITUDE OF~CEAMBER OF COMMERCE. REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT. In tho course of a reference to the agitation for the completion of the Arthur's Pass tunnel, Mr C. H. Hewlett, president of the Chamber of Commerce, at yesterday's quarterly meoting said: — At present lruch unremunerative capital is lying idle, which does not seem to disturb tho authorities at all. From a business point of view it is deplorable, and Bhows either callousness or want of business ability on th© part of thoso responsible*, certainly adequate money should be forthcoming and not frittered away on side lines, as is.now being done in different parts of tho Dominion. Tho timo lias crime when pressure must be brought to hear upon the Government to treat tho Midland Railway as a commercial and national proposition, instead of a political one. 'Jho Government have at the present vime thirty-eight different lines of railway under construction. All these uncompleted \incs uro an unnecessarily heavy fioancial burden, and the time has como when one at least, that is the Midland Railway, should be turned into a revonuo producing concern, I am sure I am right in saying that no directors of any business firm in tho world would hold office for one single year if they attempted to carry on on the same linos as our railways construction. It would simply spell bankruptcy for any business house, and were New Zealand not rich ir. natural resources, and so far able to pay for the mismanagement of the past, we should be, in a parlous plight. As it is the railway policy of this country has cost the people greatly in excess of what it should have done.