THE COST OF PIERCING THE ALPS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1830, 16 August 1913, Page 7

THE COST OF PIERCING THE ALPS.

GO ON OR STOP IT? ' j THE FEELING IN AUCKLANO I (By Teleprapll.—PrcoJ Association.) Auckland, August 15. < Expressions 0 f ojrinion regarding Otira « tunnel were given during a discussion to"day at the annual meeting of tho Auckland Railway League. Mr. Kennedy Hill, who is not a member of tho league, said that ho had been informed that he could move a resolution, and he thefeforo moved i "That in tho opinion of this meeting, tho continuance of work at Otira tunnel,is detrimental to tho bost interests of tho Dominion; that tho money now boing expended will give no profitable return, whilo if it were used lor affording the means of communication now wanting in districts such as the Bast Coast (where there is abundance of fertilo land), an immediate and profitable.return would ensue; that, in consideration of the general feeling that prevails throughout the Dominion against proceeding further with tho work, no provision should be made od tho Estimates for its contiaur.nce; that this resolution shall_ be forwarded to the Minister for Publio Works lor early and favourable consideration." Tho motion was seconded by Mr. T. H. Lees.

Mr. E. C. Banks moved the substitution bf a rosolution carried by tho league two years ago, asking the Government tfi spend J!2 on northern railways for every ill Bpent on southern lines, until tho mileage bUould be equal. That resolution, he said, went to the WaTd Government, and was simply laughed at. . The Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr), who provided, ruled tho amendment out of order. I After- considoiublo discussion, during [■which members wore found to support the notion and others to champion the continuance of tho tunnel,: the mover of tho resolution withdrew it, and this closed the Viiscussion. GRANTS FOR RAILWAYS. MORE CRITICISM OP THE TUNNEL. (By Telegraph.—Special CorroaDondent.) Auckland, August 15. ■ Tho Auckland Railways League is convinced that justico is not meted to the ,'provinco in tho matter .of railway construction, and • that it is sacrificed for other places, l'he league's annual report Btates, inter alia: "It has long been noticeable that, year after year, whatever gums are voted by Parliament for the jAuckland-Gisborno and . tho Stratford'Okahukura lines tho expenditure of such votes is so arranged that no ndditioii is mado to tho railway mileage connected with Auckland. On tho East Coast lino money is spent from Gisborno southward, and northward from Tauranga towards To Puke, and on a short branch lino to tho mount, but at the Waihi end, which is linked up with Auckland and tho North Island Main Trunk, only after long delay 'is any construction work authorised. What ought to bo stopped at all times (but especially at such periods of financial! stress) is the wasteful expenditure upon such admittedly unprofitable enterprises as the Otira tunnel on tho Midland Railway." The report'continues: "There seems to bo no_ reason why wo should, add to tho public loss which, the country has already incurred by that unfortunate undertaking. The wanton sacrifice of further largo sums of publio money upon this stupendous folly should ceas£. When wo consider that ,whatever money is buried in the Otira tunnel moans the curtailment by that amount of the funds available for opening up tho magnificent streLch of productive country between Auckland and Gisborne, and. between Gisborno and Napier, rendering millions' of acrea,availabloiior-prosperQUS'Sottle. ment, and ensuring an immense oxpansioii of our export returns, it would 6eem tho imperative duty of Parliament to put a stop, for some years to come, to any further waste of. publio money upon a work which (though unfortunately begun) would be almost useless for many years to come, even if, at an, enormous cost, it were actually comploted. It was felt to bo useless for tho league to urge upon tho Government greater expedition in railway construction when every appeal all- over the country was being received by Ministers with tho non possumua Teply, "No money." At the same time, moiiey can bo raised, and should bo raised, for carrying out tho railway construction necessary to tho proper development of the country. is no ' sense in delaying the extension of obviously profitable lines indefinitely, and creating a mild financial depression by the.sudden.shutting off of public worka expenditure in different directions simply becauso tho world's money-lenders have pnt up tho price of -money for the timo being. The business of tho country, liko any other lousiness, niaist go on in legitimate enterprise and natural expansion, whatever tho temporary extra oast."