Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY MARCH 9th, 1918. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY MARCH 9th, 1918. THE WEEK.

Tub beggarly array of empty benches at the Town Hall on Thursday nighi when a public meeting was called ii connection with Otira Tunnel matters, did not indicate any burning interesl locally in a .work, which completec will create a new era for this immediate district in particular. Just win there should be this indifference about a matter of such vital importance is hard to say. The average shop-keepei stands at his door-way to-day and com.’ plains of quiet times, regardless ol the blame attachable to himself foj not helping to improve matters by making Hokitika the most important terminus of the South Island railway system. The complaining 'tradesman oi Thursday evening probably felt mon interested in his own pleasure, and hied himself off to some form of amusement or to attend a. meeting of less eonceri from a vital point of view. A quidnunc one remarked that a country was governed, by as good a Parliament as it deserved—for its democracy elected the men who did the governing. Similarly, a town is likely to have as good a time as its citizens make for it. To their show of enterprise may be tine ed the degree of prosperity the place enjoys. If they prefer their own pleasere and pastimes to the general advancement of the district, they will get a fair amount of amusement, of a kind, no doubt, but they will miss the solid prosperity if they neglect the interests of their town, and they lose in a large way a share in the improved conditions which would otherwise give them quite a new interest in life.

Otiha. 'lTnnkt, matters are mostly threadbare from s a talking point of view, which accounts probably for the dullness of the speeches on Thursday night. The time for arguing as to the pros and cons of the railway has gone by. The work is too far advanced for tfhis point to ho especially stressed. Nor is there any need of it on the face of things. . The prospects of trade and traffic as a result of through traffic being possible, are now so manifest that there is nothing to argue about on the financial side. This is not an irresponsible statement, hut a fact officially 'supported, because the Railway Department in anticipation of some day taking over the working of the tunnel, lias had an estimate prepared of tin l probable traffic and compiled a. draff time-table to deal with the business. This estimate surprised the officials themselves in the first place and its dimensions, with the power necessary to haul it, has given the Public V<>Department very prolonged thought To provide the requisite electric power. This (assures the definite conclusion that the traffic will be large, and in point of fact to avoid congestion it will be. necessary to. utilise tbo night as well as the dav to cope satisfactorily with the <e<ods traffic. ith prospects like those abend, it is fntii' to argue whv the line should he opened. The only question to decide in the interests of the country generally, is the best ways and means to expedite the completion so fihat the large capital invested will become interest earning and the. Dominion will derive the benefit of the national enterprise Tf the Otirn tunnel were in America or Canada it would not he a tnunel in name onlv now after ten years work. Tn less than a third of the time Pm bole in the bill would be converted into an actual tunnel, and trains would be rushing through. A pushful policy like that pays, and it will pay this country, lato in the day as it is, to

! get completion operations pushed forward with all possible vigour. The. undertaking is at that stage now that two or three hundred men could be put on with advantage if time were the essence of the public policy. The somnolent Government policy which has allowed the drifting weeks to go by, while the works proceeded at a snail’s pace, should be revised without delay. The task is not impossible either for the want of men or money. It is a national folly now to delay the work unduly. Its magnitude is sufficient to engage the special attention, not only of the Minister of Public Works but. of Cabinet itself. If tile interest of Ministers could be aroused surely all that is desired would he accomplished. It is a remarkable fact that although two years ago the Government tooted £‘70,000 a year for the two previous years for the Otira —Bealev works, and exceeded the amount, for the last two years £60,000 a year lias been voted and not fully expended. Instead of an increasing amount to speed completion the Minister takes a lesser sum, indicating there is no decision in liis policy to rush the work for completion. Tn regard to men and money the agitation now requires to concentrate. To urge the Government to drop the political railways and carry through the national railways is the task of V moment.

With the quickening interest in Canterbury, and the powerful aid from that quarter it should not he hard to concentrate more public attention on tlie Otira Tunnel works. It is clear without a healthy public opinion, Ministers will not devote the interest they should to the business of the public. That is why we regi’et so few folk thought it worth while to give, an hour the other evening to the advancement of tlieir own interests. A bumper tendance, and the enthusiasm which would have been excited, would have infused the Executive appointed into - more belligerent action than will nov lie "probable. The Executive is a largo one ,and is representative of all the interests in' the district, ft should get to work\ with the least, possible dcla\ and in addition to probing up the Government. might do something-,to enlighten the darkness of our own people who show so much indifference, to their own concerns. The demand to finish the work in eighteen months is not unreasonable. The period is ample if .the Government were determined. It will be necessary to give a higher rate of wages to attract the workmen, but’ that will not he waste, for in this ease- time is costing money, and time saved will be money saved. The labour is in the country, and exer- | vising 1 powers of concentration, the work could he rushed through within the time suggested. It is a fine opening for the Minister in Charge to associate his name in a distinctive way for all time with a great public work. If the great opportunity is lost, the distinction the Minister will earn will bo far from enviable.

The pasing of .Tolm Redmond at the present, crisis of Irish Affairs is a nation al calamity. As the distinguished leader of the Nationalist Party he occupied a position of great importance. His influence and personal magnetism in that quarter were of the greatestassistance to the nation as a whole and to Ireland in> particular. In all the' storms and stress of the Home Rule fight he was a trusted leader whose knowledge of Parliamentary procedure and capable methods of handling a most complex and delicate situation, stood his cause in the best effect. The tributes lie lias earned wore well deserv ed, and are a worthy epitaph indeed to an arduous life oi public service. His parliamentary career lias been devoted mainly to til'd'"achievements of Home Rule for Ireland, and it is a matter for great regret that lie lias not witnessed its actual accomplishment. He had the satisfaction of seeing the principle of Home Rule placed upon tlie statute book, and but for the war intervening, the measure would have been enforced and Mr. Redmond was regarded as the first Premier-elect for Ireland. On the eve of the declaration ol war tlie political parties of Britain, which had been so torn asunder during .Tune and .Tilly owing to the Ulster question, suddenly closed their ranks for tlieir country’s greater cause in the war,- and the Irish question was for the time being dropped. Tt was at this great part ing of t-lic wavs that Mr. Redmond made a memorable declaration that the Government might withdraw all their troops from Ireland, and leave it to be defended by the Nationalist and Ulster Volunteers working loyally together. This generous offer was typical of the man’s genuine loyalty., and gave a fillip to the Home Rule cause all round the world.