OTIRA TUNNEL AGITATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1918, Page 1

OTIRA TUNNEL AGITATION.

MEETING. AT TOWN HALE.

There was a small attendance at the Town Hall last evening, about flf'i > persons being present when a public meeting was held in connection with the agitation to urge on (loverinnent the speeding up of work at Otira tunnel.

Mr (1. A. Perry (Mayor of Hokitika), who presided, said the. meeting had been called for the purpoce of giving expression to. the opinion that there

was ,an urgent necessity for the completion of the Otira Tunnel as speedily as possible. The estimates made by the early promoters ns to the revenue earn ing power of the lino had already been greatly exceeded as far as passengers wore concerned without the tunnel being completed, l’n fact all the figures quoted in furtherance ot the pro-; ject had proved to be on the smfill side and would undoubtedly be greatly exceeded, when the tunnel pens an accomplished fart. Tt was beyond a shadow of doubt that, the joining together of the two districts would greatly augment theirs prosperity. When the tunnel was through this district would greatly prosper, but lie thought it advisable at this juncture to sound a note of warning for the residents to carefully look after their interests so that they secured the advantage of the improved conditions that the completion of the rniliVay connection would assure. As an example of this lie would mention as an instance, their valuable timber resources. He pointed out tha.t onl\ recently their timber lands had been mopped up by the Kauri Timber Company by means of subsidiary syndicates with the result that this firm had captured all the available 'timber lands from "Ross as far south as Duffer’s Creek. He pointed this out to show that the people of the district should keep wide awake, *4o that they should be able to receive the full advantage of the prosperity that would surely come when the through railway connection was an accomplished fact. He would not say more hut would ask the County Chairman to move n resolution.

Mr Bernard Ward (Chairman of Westland County Council) moved: “That in view of the completion of the Arthur’s Pass Tunnel being regarded as n. national work by the press, public, and parliamentarians, and as the moment through traffic East and West is possible a large trade will spring into being giving substantial revenue, it is expedient the work should be prosecuted to completion with all possible dispatch; to this end the Government be urged to concentrate on the: work of linking the Coasts with all speed by employing more men in the tunnel works, to ensure rapid progress and the realisation of those hopes and ex pectations of the early pioneers whose judgment in starting work is already

justified by tlie promising prospects “ of the Midland Railway from the day it is opened for through traffic. “That to assist Vn giving effect to the foregoing, by 'constant, and if necessary aggressive agitation, those present with power to add to 'their number be appointed a general 'Committee to co-operate with the Canterbury movement for the com pletion of the work within eighteen months and that the; members of Parliament, of the two Provinces he asked to constitute themselves into a special committee to watch the interess of the work in Parliament, and to advise how host a spirited agitation can be carried to a successful achievement of the long deferred wishes of the people in respect to this great national undertaking. “That tlie Mayors of Hokitika, Kumarn, and Ross, the County Chair man, Chairman of the Harbour Board, Vice-President •of tlie AA restlaiul Chamber of Commerce, President of the AVestland A and I’ Asso. eiation and Chairman of the Dairy Factory Companies in AVestland with Messrs Bruce, Mclntosh and Malfroy be an executive of the General Committee to watch the interest of the rail way generally and assist in propaganda work in conjunction with Canterbury to pjublish abroad the merits and Dominion advantages of the line.”

Speaking to the motion Air Ward said he regarded the completion, of the Otira tunnel as the most important work in the Dominion. He regretted to find that there was opposition to the work in other parts of New Zealand, but lie felf that this opposition was only due to those opposed to it not knowing the prospects'of the West Coast. He was quite certain AVestland was going to be a great dairy district but they would not have success until the tunnel was completed. A large sum of money had-been paid for the work and until it was completed that money would not be rcocmio earning. Mr Ward had recently had the opportunity of inspecting the work at Otira tunnel. There was a feeling of those 1 that made the inspection that though the work was one of great magnitude, that they were not pushing on the

work half as fast as tile work should be pushed through. The project was one. that affected every person in the district. Nothing should be left undone to impress on those in power the necessity for having the tunnel completed as soon as possible.. In placing tlie resolution before them be urged its importance for their' careful consideration and asked for their united support

Air. I{. Wild, member of the Harbour Hoard, seconded the motion, saving it was something of an anomaly for a representative of the • Harboui Board to urge a railway that would run opposition to the port but lie felt it Ills duty to support the agitation. Pet/sonally be was very reluctant in interfering with title duties of the Government. in power. There was,, however tile* self-evident fact that three-quar-ters of a million already spent on the tunnel.which" was costing £430 per dav. As an instance of the value of

the through railway service he said on every hundred feet of timber that went through the tunnel to Christchurch they would save two shillings in the cost. ,-He had had a confidential statement from a railway officer that one difficulty they had to contend with was the fact that the traffic would he double what they had expected. It was an astounding fact that at present there were 13 other railways in progress of being made but lie was certain, there was no work in the Dominion of such a great value ns the completion of the Otira tunnel. Mr. T. W. Bruce said he thought the most, cogent reasons for the completion of the tunnel was the large amount, of money that was remaining idle till tlie work was an accomplished fact.

It would be at least, two more years before a train passed through the tunnel. He bad formed one of the party that bad made the inspection. Tf the .work was steadily gone on with it would be possible to make the headings meet byiJune next, and the tunnel be completed for traffic in fifteen months. Reference was/ made* to the opposition in the Auckland district, some in Otago, and tlie shipping opposition. He hardly thought the motion was peppery enough, They should take the gloves off and make the motion as strong as- possible. He thought the best suggestion that he

could make would be to get the members of Parliament t,o make an inspection of the Otira tunnel. They bad the pleasing fact that the two West Coast lines were the most payable lines in the i Dominion. He thought that the West Coast local bodies should unite and bring the members of Parliament together before, the session opens There was room at present for five sets of men continually employed, without interfering with the progress of the extending of tlie heading. The best, way to get influence to hear on the Government was-to get the members to visit the site of the tunnel.

Rev. P. 15 .Fraser, ;ts a disinterested person, said he had been nil over the railways of New Zealand, and had been able to compare one district with another. There was no comparison with the railway works in other parts, and the necessity of the wark in this district. He felt that he could not allow the motion to he put without expressing his suppor thereto. He thought the suggestion of Mr. Bruce should be -given effect to. Tt did not appear to bo able to get the Minister of Public Works to give effect to their desires, and it did not, seem to him that there would be nothing large or progressive obtained from his namesake (laughter). As they had no representative in Parliament at present either in the Lower or Upper House, they should get the

other members of Parliament to inspect the work if it were possible. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Mr. do Berry suggested that the suggestion made by Mr. Bruce be put in the form of a motion so that it mild be placed before the local bodies. He was sure it..had the approval of the meeting. (Hear hear) Mr. Bruce then moved.—That this meeting urge on the Chamber of Commerce of Canterbury the desirability ai(d urgent necessity of asking every member of Parliament in New Zealand to inspect the Otira Tunnel at both ends prior to tlie meeting of Parliament, and approach the various local bodies to give effect to the proposal. Seconded bv Mr. do Berry and carried. The meeting then concluding with - vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding.